Abstract: A tray for storing articles, such as cylindrical beverage containers, in a substantially upright position includes a bottom member and four wall members interconnected to provide an enclosure for receiving the articles. Each of the wall members has a support member protruding into the enclosure from the corresponding wall member. Each support member has a support surface which is inclined upwardly from the corresponding wall member into the enclosure. A portion of the outer surface of the bottom member adjacent to each of the wall members is also inclined upwardly and is adapted to contact the corresponding support surfaces of another tray when two or more trays are nested. A plurality of external rib members are disposed on respective outer surfaces of the wall members for contacting respective inner surfaces of the wall members of another tray when two or more trays are nested.

Abstract: Individual beverage containers 16 are transported by conveyor track 14A to conveyor track 14B, along which they are advanced by parallel chains 34 and 36 carrying flight bars 44. Trays 26 to receive containers 16 are advanced by an inclined conveyor track 24B having projections 30 to engage the trays. A plurality of support members 130 are disposed at the downstream end of track 14B to introduce the containers into the trays. Special trays are used having a plurality of structural members on their inner wall surfaces to define recessed regions between the structural members into which the curved surfaces of the containers fit so that they are held upright.