Abstract: A can guide system for a can carrier applicator apparatus with the applicator having a can passageway formed therein which is defined by vertically disposed first and second support walls. A first can guide is mounted on the inner side of the first support wall and a second can guide is mounted on the inner side of the second support wall. Each of the can guides are movably mounted in a recess in the inner side of the respective support wall. Each of the can guides have a can stop formed on the forward ends thereof. Each of the can guides are pivotally movable between first and second positions. When in the first position, the can stops prevent cans from passing thereby. When in the second position, the can stops are not in the paths of the cans passing through the can passageway.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying tags with attached elastic anchor bands onto the tops of objects such as bottles in a high speed packaging application. The apparatus includes an infeed assembly for feeding a web, a conveyor assembly that receives a web and conveys it along a path in an upstream direction, a rotating selector wheel, a placement assembly, a pair of rotating jaw assembles, a vacuum cup of the selector wheel, and stretched elastic bands over the tops of respective bottles being conveyed along a path below the placing assembly. The elastic bands then snap onto the tops of their respective bottles to secure the tags to the bottles.

Abstract: A container packaging system for containers applies an apertured plastics film carrier stock to substantially identical containers such as beverage cans having annular chimes, cylindrical side walls, and frusto-conical walls between the chimes and the side walls. The carrier stock has shaped apertures to securely retain drinks cans, food cans, bottles and similar containers, as a multi-pack unit. The carrier stock is rolled onto suitably juxtaposed containers engaging a tabbed aperture edge portion progressively from above to below the upper edge of the respective containers to be multi-packed and assumes a waveform 3D conformation to unitise the containers. The rolling method contrasts prior stretch application methods and enables cheaper and thinner carrier stock to be used.

Abstract: A machine for packaging multiple containers wherein a flexible carrier stock is fed across a jaw drum. A plurality of containers are also moved through the machine whereby the carrier is subsequently positioned over the plurality of containers so that flexible carrier stock engages with one of the containers to form a package. The jaw drum and/or a connected feed drum are preferably adjustable to accommodate a range of container sizes and carrier configurations.

Abstract: An applicating machine for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes a jaw drum moveable between an operating position and a storage position away from the operating position. In the operating position the jaw drum is positioned with respect to the infeed to accept the plurality of containers and apply the flexible carrier to the plurality of containers. A second jaw drum may be moveable into the operating position to enable packaging of containers having different dimensions and/or packages having different configurations.

Abstract: An applicating machine for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes a jaw assembly that reciprocates to apply a generally continuous string of carrier stock onto a quantity of containers. A carrier unwinder is integrated with the applicating machine to provide the generally continuous string of carrier stock for packaging desired sets of containers.

Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a flexible sheet and a plurality of container receiving apertures formed in the flexible sheet together with a system and method of application including an applicating machine for applying the flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes a jaw assembly that reciprocates to apply a generally continuous string of carrier stock onto a quantity of containers.

Abstract: A system for packaging articles includes a first collection area for receiving and arranging a plurality of articles having a substantially non-uniform geometry. A transport device is included and a consolidation area for constructing an article layer, each article layer constructed from the plurality of arranged articles transported from the first collection area by the transport device. The consolidation area includes a stabilizer providing substantially continuous lateral support along the periphery of arranged articles of the article layer being constructed to substantially prevent tipping of the plurality of arranged articles. A portion of the arranged articles transported by the transport device is oriented differently from the other arranged articles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to changing the height of the wrapping bar on a lap seal machine so that articles of different heights can be accommodated by making the height of the wrapping bar adjustable to accommodate taller or shorter articles on a conveyor.

Abstract: A machine for packaging multiple containers wherein a flexible carrier stock is fed across a jaw drum. A plurality of containers are also moved through the machine whereby the carrier is subsequently positioned over the plurality of containers so that flexible carrier stock engages with one of the containers to form a package. The machine is adjustable to accommodate a range of container heights and sizes, carrier configurations and/or package sizes. In addition, movement of the various components of the machine is coordinated using a drive system and a controller.

Abstract: A system for packaging multiple containers wherein a carrier is moved through an applicating machine, the carrier constructed of flexible plastic having a plurality of elongated apertures aligned in transverse ranks, which elongated apertures are oriented in a longitudinal direction of the carrier and have a longitudinal pitch between a center of each adjacent elongated aperture, the longitudinal pitch having a first length. A plurality of containers are also moved through the applicating machine, each container of the plurality of containers spaced apart from an adjacent container by the applicating machine. The carrier is subsequently positioned over the plurality of containers whereby each elongated aperture engages with one of the containers to form a package having a container pitch between a center of adjacent containers with a second length shorter then the first length.

Abstract: This invention relates to a single-piece carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers with a retainer sheet integrated with a film sleeve. The retainer sheet may comprise a thicker material than the film sleeve. The retainer sheet comprises a plurality of container receiving openings for engaging a top portion of each container while the film sleeve surrounds the plurality of containers. Packages may comprise one or more layers of containers within the film sleeve.

Abstract: A low speed container packaging machine is provided using a plastic carrier to hold containers and comprising a conveyor moving containers in double rows introducing them to the carrier applying section, receiving and moving them, a pair of cogwheels to locate them in synchronous position below the jaw plates, and thus apply the carrier to the containers. The jaws are mounted on the plates spinning on two axes at preset angles with respect to the horizontal and vertical planes and located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the machine. The plates, upon spinning take the carrier strip or fastener from the feed trough and with their jaws, stretch the carrier for a 180° run and locate it on the containers and together with a suitably positioned release plate, deposit the carrier on the containers. Once the carrier is applied on the containers, the containers enter the cut station in which packages of 2, 4, 6, 8 or more containers are formed by means of a novel cutting system.