Abstract: Methods of selectively packaging clips of tissues in flat or boutique cartons include depositing clips on carriers and turning and dropping clips into transverse channels in the carrier floors from where fat clips can be pushed into flat cartons, or selectively depressing the mid-portion of clips spanning the channels into the channels to form U-shaped clips which can be pushed into boutique cartons.

Abstract: Tissue clips are selectively turned 90 degrees on a bucket conveyor for endwise flat carton loading, or left alone for boutique carton loading. Extensible pushers engage the sides of tissue clips configured for flat cartons at longitudinally displaced positions for turning the clips and dropping them into transverse channels across the bucket floors. Boutique clips are later depressed into the channels they span for configuration and sideways transfer into boutique cartons. The channel floors lie below the bucket floors. Transfer guide buckets have floors at the same level as the bucket channel floors and are used to facilitate clip transfer into cartons of a selected configuration. Tamps descend from above the buckets to confine the clips and/or selectively form the boutique clips at least partially into the channels. Methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: Tissue clips are placed on the upper level of bi-level product buckets, with the length of the tissue clips in the machine direction. The lower level of the product bucket is comprised of a full-width transverse channel whose width is greater than the width of the tissue clips but less the length of the tissue clips. To package flat packages of tissues, extensible pushers turn the tissue clips 90 degrees so they drop into the transverse channels. Subsequently flat overhead tamps descend and the tissue clips are pushed through guide buckets into the end of the flat-pack cartons. To package boutique packages of tissues, the extensible pushers are disengaged so the length of the tissue clips remain in the machine direction spanning the transverse channels. Subsequently, narrow tamps descend, pushing the center of the tissue clips into the transverse channels, forming the tissue clips into the beginning of a U-shape ready for pushing through guide buckets into the side of boutique cartons.