Abstract: A basket-style carrier comprised of two substantially identical carrier units. Each carrier unit has a handle panel ply opposite an end panel. The carrier units are connected by adhering the handle panel plies together to form the centrally located handle panel of the carrier. Each handle panel ply has a foldably connected handle flap which is formed from an area of the associated end panel, resulting in the end panels of the carrier having a notched portion. Each carrier unit may also include partition panels and transverse dividers.

Abstract: A carton for packaging two layers of stacked flanged tubs. A top panel overlies the tops of the upper tubs and a layer board lies between the two layers. Reinforcing flaps connected to the layer board are adhered to the side panels of the carton. The side panels contain openings through which portions of the tub flanges protrude. The bottom edge of the lower openings engage the underside of the tub flanges when lifting the package to thereby support the lower tubs.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier which is loaded through open ends. End panel forming flaps are connected to the edges of a central handle panel and end panel flaps are connected to the edges of bottom panel sections on either side of the handle panel. After loading articles through an open end of a partially formed carrier, the end panel forming flaps are folded and the end panel flaps are adhered to them. Gusset panels connect the end panel flaps to the end panel forming flaps. The handle panel is of two-ply construction with a four-ply handle area.

Abstract: A partition control assembly within a continuous-motion automatic packaging machine receives and controls the motion of partitions which are ejected at high speeds from a partition ejection mechanism for insertion between preconfigured groups of articles disposed on a flight conveyor in the machine. The partition control assembly includes a first member having a contoured guiding surface for receiving a leading edge of the partition and for guiding the partition into a lateral, downward direction in relation to the partition ejector. Disposed opposite the first member is a second member which includes a control surface disposed opposite the contoured guiding surface, creating an interior control space between the control and contoured guiding surfaces.

Abstract: A rotary flap tucker comprising a tube sector having a smaller arc length end, a larger arc length end, a longitudinal edge, and an edge which helically advances generally from the small arc length end to the large arc length end. The tube sector has end plates each with an edge contoured to avoid contact with a carton flap as the flap tucker rotates about its center axis which is aligned with the carton travel direction. The leading edge of a flap entering the flap tucker follows the helical edge of the flap tucker as it rotates without contacting the flap for a majority of the rotation. Rotation brings the flap tucker's longitudinal edge in contact with the flap along a majority of the flap's length. Continued rotation plows the majority of the length of the flap simultaneously, thereby preventing the flap from misaligning on the carton when the flap is closed. The outside surface of the rotating flap tucker runs against the closed flap of the advancing carton, preferably along the carton's center line.

Abstract: A planar article or sheet, such as a divider sheet for stacked products, and the method of supplying substantially planar articles from a supply magazine to an article transfer device, which then transfers the article to a desired location for further processing. The planar article itself can be a divider sheet for stacked beverage containers, folded paperboard cartons for carriers, or any other substantially planar article which is adapted to be consecutively arranged with other such articles in a group, and placed in a supply magazine for singular delivery to an article transfer device. The method of the present invention is specifically designed to insure that only one sheet at a time is removed from the group by the article transfer device. The sheets or articles themselves, are designed to cooperate with the supply magazine to facilitate singular delivery.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier with rounded corners and a partial top panel. Cutouts in the side and end panels are designed to receive reinforcing struts of molded plastic shipping trays when packed in such trays. The bottom panel of the carrier is comprised of a bottom panel section connected to a center support panel and bottom panel flaps connected to the side panels. The dimensions of the carrier and the location of cell divider partitions are such that the corner areas of the carrier are forced into rounded shape by the bottles being loaded into the carrier.

Abstract: A paperboard carrier device for retaining a plurality of containers is disclosed. The carrier device is made from a paperboard blank (10) and has a base (16) with apertures defined therein for receiving the necks of the respective containers, two side walls (19,20) hingedly connected to opposed side edges of the base, the side walls being angled with respect to the base and extending toward one another, and two handle panels (23,24) hingedly connected to each one of the respective side walls. A plurality of reinforcing flaps (34) are defined in the side walls and the handle panels, the reinforcing flaps being hingedly attached to each one of the side walls along an edge (32), respectively. The reinforcing flaps are folded against the side walls in use, and have a length greater than half of the width of the base.

Abstract: A bottle clip carrier having an upwardly extending handle. The carrier is comprised of upper and lower support panels, each having bottle neck openings and support tabs. In one embodiment the upper support panel is comprised of adhered overlapping flaps, each flap having a handle ply extending from it. In another embodiment the lower support panel is comprised of abutting flaps, each flap having a handle ply extending up through a slot in the upper support panel.

Abstract: An overhead flight conveyor assembly for use with a continuous motion packaging machine to erect four-sided tapered paperboard cartons is disclosed. The packaging machine has an elongate carton transport conveyor supported on a framework of the packaging machine, and moving along a path of travel. The overhead flight conveyor assembly has a housing supported on the framework of the packaging machine spaced above, and in alignment with the carton transport conveyor. A trailing lug assembly is supported on the housing and extends at least partially along the length thereof, the trailing lug assembly having at least one elongate conveyor chain with a series of spaced trailing lugs affixed thereto and being moved in the direction of the path of travel in timed relationship with the carton transport conveyor.

Abstract: An article carrier having an elongated handle strap and a tear-away top opening feature. The handle strap may extend between either the end panels or the side panels of the carrier and is separably connected to the top panel. The separable lines of weakness extend into the end or side panels and, with other lines of weakness, allow portions of the end or side panels to be separated. This allows the top panel portions on either side of the handle strap to be folded back to allow access to the packaged articles. Even after the top panel portions are separated the carrier can be lifted by the handle.

Abstract: A paperboard carrier device for holding a plurality of article containers, each article container having an annular rim formed along an upper peripheral edge extending perpendicularly with respect to an article container sidewall, is disclosed. The carrier device includes a top panel (11) having a plurality of spaced article engaging apertures (12) defined therein and extending therethrough. Each aperture is dimensioned to be less than the rim diameter of the article containers, and has a continuous marginal portion (31) sized and shaped to elastically deform as it is passed over the annular rim of one of the article containers and is received on the sidewall of the article container and engaged in a snap fit beneath the annular rim thereof.

Abstract: A self-locating star wheel system for spacing bottles on a conveyor in a packaging machine comprising a pair of star wheels with a hub and cam disposed between them and mounted on an arm which moves them into the stream of bottles until the cam engages a pair of rollers mounted at the ends of a U-shaped pivoting bracket attached to the machine frame to control the lateral position of the star wheels with respect to the stream of bottles. The cam diameter is specific for a given size star wheel so that the proper positioning of the star wheel is achieved by the geometric relationship between the star wheel and the cam. The mechanism also functions as a safety feature by sending a stop signal to the machine when something, such as a down bottle, causes the star wheels move away from the rollers.

Abstract: A carton feed opening wheel assembly for opening carton blanks into preformed cartons on a packaging machine is disclosed. The carton feed opening wheel assembly has a pair of spaced and generally parallel endless vacuum conveyor belts moving along a path of travel from a carton magazine assembly to a carton transport conveyor, and a carton opening wheel positioned on the packaging machine with respect to the vacuum conveyor belts for engaging the top portion of an unopened carton blank being moved on the vacuum conveyor belts toward the carton transport conveyor. The carton opening wheel has at least one suction cup supported thereon for engaging the top portion of the carton blank at a speed and direction substantially the same as the speed and direction of the unopened carton blank moving on the vacuum conveyor belts.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier having primary and secondary locks for connecting the bottom panel flaps together. One of the bottom panel flaps includes a foldably connected male locking flap having a primary locking tab adjacent the fold and a secondary locking flap at the other end. The other bottom panel flap contains primary and secondary female locking openings. The bottom panel flap containing the male locking flap partially overlaps the other bottom panel flap, with the male locking tabs being inserted into the female locking openings.

Abstract: A wedge for selecting articles to group on a cartoning machine where a wedge face that reacts infeed pressure has an outwardly curved surface. The curved face greatly reduces damage from infeed pressure to thin-walled cylindrical articles, such as beverage cans. In the preferred embodiment, the selector wedge is designed to attach to a flight bar on a selecting system of the cartoning machine. It has a recess to accept an end of a flight bar and holes through it for bolting the wedge to the flight bar.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier for containing and carrying twelve containers or other articles includes first and second end panels opposite each other and first and second side panels opposite each other and connected to the end panels. A bottom is connected to the side panels and a central handle is positioned between the side panels. The central handle comprises six handle panels secured to one another, with the central handle being connected to the end panels. A plurality of partitions are connected to and extend between the central handle and the first and second side panels. The partitions define six 2-container cells. The central handle includes a foldable handgrip portion which is foldable between an upright position for carrying the carrier in which the handgrip portion extends above an uppermost portion of the end panels and a folded position adjacent the containers for stacking the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of forming stacked article groups by supplying at least two streams of articles; forming a stream of first article groups having at least one article; placing a support base on a top surface of each first article group; and forming a second article group, having at least one article, on top of the support base of each first article group, whereby stacked article groups are formed. The stacked article groups are subsequently packaged.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier suitable for packaging tub-shaped articles which have recessed bottom portions. The bottom panel is formed from an inner flap to which article retainer flaps are hinged and an outer flap to which secondary locking tabs are hinged. The retainer flaps are pivoted into the interior of the carrier by the locking tabs and include edges which contact the bottom portions of adjacent articles and also foldable retainer tabs which also contact the bottom portions. A projection on the locking tabs extends through an opening in the retainer flap and the end edge of the locking tab supports the retainer flap. A further opening in the retainer flap receives a locking tab shoulder to prevent withdrawal of the locking tab. A slit in the inner bottom panel flap allows passage of another locking tab shoulder which engages the inner bottom panel flap to further prevent withdrawal.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading stacked article groups into cartons in a continuous motion cartoner assembly. The barrel cam loading apparatus or article group transport mechanism is particularly suited to loading article groups that are unstable or whose articles tend to spin and kick article out of the carton.