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 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 carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier includes a plurality of panels including an attachment panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the attachment panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to the attachment panel, container retention features including a plurality of container openings in the attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and locking features for maintaining a secure engagement of the carrier with the plurality of containers, the locking features including at least one locking tab foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and at least one locking cut at least partially receiving the at least one locking tab, the at least one locking cut positioned in the other of the first side panel and the second side panel.

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 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.

Abstract: A method of forming a tray includes obtaining a blank, the blank having a plurality of panels and a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The method further includes positioning the blank in a blank feeder assembly of a system for forming a tray, moving the blank to a tray forming assembly, the tray forming assembly including a tray forming assembly, the tray forming assembly including a turret assembly comprising a plurality of female tray forming members, the tray forming assembly further comprising a piston assembly including a male forming member, positioning the blank between the turret assembly and the piston assembly, and moving the piston assembly into at least partial engagement with the turret assembly to form a tray from the blank.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier including a central panel including a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, at least one reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line, the at least one reinforcement flap including a base portion and a plurality of spaced extents extending from the base portion for being positioned between respective containers of the plurality of containers, and at least one reinforcement feature interrupting the fold line and positioned between the central panel and the at least one reinforcement flap.

Abstract: A method of moving at least one container includes positioning at least one container at an upstream end of a system having at least one track assembly, a linear motor assembly, and at least one product engagement assembly, the at least one product engagement assembly having a shuttle member movably engaged with the linear motor assembly and the at least one track assembly, and an adapter assembly coupled to the shuttle member and comprising a product engagement member. The method further includes engaging the at least one container with the product engagement member, moving the at least one product engagement assembly at least partially along the linear motor assembly, and articulating the product engagement member relative to the shuttle member.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a central panel for engaging the plurality of containers and at least one attachment feature in the central panel that receives and holds a top portion of at least one container of the plurality of containers. The at least one attachment feature includes an opening in the central panel, a first retention feature, and a second retention feature. The first retention feature and the second retention feature includes a respective first retention edge and second retention edge of the central panel defining a respective first portion and a second portion of the opening and for engaging a respective first portion and a second portion of at least one container of the plurality of containers to at least partially attach the at least one container to the carrier.

Abstract: A method for processing at least one blank for forming a carrier for containers includes obtaining at least one blank including a central panel having plurality of container openings and at least one container retention tab extending into respective container openings of the plurality of container openings. The method further includes inserting the at least one blank into a blank infeed assembly, moving the at least one blank from the infeed assembly to a blank processing assembly, the blank processing assembly having a forming belt and a forming wheel, moving the at least one blank between the forming belt and the forming wheel, and moving the at least one blank to a product engagement portion of the blank processing assembly such that the at least one blank is positioned for engagement with a group of containers.

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 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 carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier including a plurality of panels having at least one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers, at least one side panel, and at least one top 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 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 carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes an attachment panel having a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving respective containers of the plurality of containers, and container retention features including the plurality of container retention openings and at least one container retention tab in at least partial face-to-face contact with the attachment panel and for being positioned between adjacent containers of the plurality of containers to urge the plurality of containers into engagement with the attachment panel.

Abstract: A method of moving at least one container includes positioning at least one container at an upstream end of a system having at least one track assembly, a linear motor assembly, and at least one product engagement assembly, the at least one product engagement assembly having a shuttle member movably engaged with the linear motor assembly and the at least one track assembly, and an adapter assembly coupled to the shuttle member and comprising a product engagement member. The method further includes engaging the at least one container with the product engagement member, moving the at least one product engagement assembly at least partially along the linear motor assembly, and articulating the product engagement member relative to the shuttle member.

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.

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a central panel for engaging the plurality of containers and at least one attachment feature in the central panel that receives and holds a top portion of at least one container of the plurality of containers. The at least one attachment feature includes an opening in the central panel, a first retention feature, and a second retention feature. The first retention feature and the second retention feature includes a respective first retention edge and second retention edge of the central panel defining a respective first portion and a second portion of the opening and for engaging a respective first portion and a second portion of at least one container of the plurality of containers to at least partially attach the at least one container to the carrier.

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.

Abstract: An article packaging machine and method or turning article packs, the article packaging machine having a turner station for turning article packs moving though the packaging machine. The packaging machine includes a main conveyor extending longitudinally from an upstream end to a downstream end and through the turning station. Article packs are carried by the main conveyor spaced and sequentially in the downstream direction through the turner station. The turner station includes flight drive assembly having multiple flight assemblies. The flight assemblies are driven above upper cam plates in the upstream direction, and below lower cam plates in the downstream direction. The flight assemblies include turner rods that are moved toward the main conveyor to contact the article pack in at least two points. The turner rods progressively move toward the main conveyor center line until the distal ends of the turner rods are moved past the article pack side walls and the pack is turned 90 degrees.

Abstract: An article packaging machine and method or turning article packs, the article packaging machine having a turner station for turning article packs moving though the packaging machine. The packaging machine includes a main conveyor extending longitudinally from an upstream end to a downstream end and through the turning station. Article packs are carried by the main conveyor spaced and sequentially in the downstream direction through the turner station. The turner station includes flight drive assembly having multiple flight assemblies. The flight assemblies are driven above upper cam plates in the upstream direction, and below lower cam plates in the downstream direction. The flight assemblies include turner rods that are moved toward the main conveyor to contact the article pack in at least two points. The turner rods progressively move toward the main conveyor center line until the distal ends of the turner rods are moved past the article pack side walls and the pack is turned 90 degrees.