An insert for a flow wrapped packaging assembly has a bottom wall (18) and a peripheral wall (20) extending from said bottom wall to define an interior volume (21) for containing product (14). The insert has a tongue (20) at a top end of the peripheral wall which is movable between a closed position in which it at least partially closes the interior volume at the top end of the insert and an open position in which it does not impede access to the interior volume. The insert (12) can be top-filled when upright with the tongue open and then moved to a horizontal orientation for flow wrapping using a HFFS process with the tongue closed to prevent the contents spilling out. The insert is particularly suitable for enabling a plurality of disc-shape products, such as beverage pads, to be flow wrapped using HFFS processes.

An insert for a flow wrapped packaging assembly has a bottom wall (18) and a peripheral wall (20) extending from said bottom wall to define an interior volume (21) for containing product (14). The insert has a tongue (20) at a top end of the peripheral wall which is movable between a closed position in which it at least partially closes the interior volume at the top end of the insert and an open position in which it does not impede access to the interior volume. The insert (12) can be top-filled when upright with the tongue open and then moved to a horizontal orientation for flow wrapping using a HFFS process with the tongue closed to prevent the contents spilling out. The insert is particularly suitable for enabling a plurality of disc-shape products, such as beverage pads, to be flow wrapped using HFFS processes.

A product mailer with an envelope and a first card positioned within the envelope. The first card has a bottom surface and a plurality of containers mounted to the bottom surface of the first card. Each of the containers mounted to the first card defines a cavity dimensioned to hold a respective product. A second card is positioned within the envelope. The second card has a bottom surface facing the bottom surface of the first card. A plurality of containers are mounted to the bottom surface of the second card. Each of the containers mounted to the second card defines a cavity dimensioned to hold a respective product. The containers mounted to the first card are offset from the containers mounted to the second card.

A product mailer with an envelope and a first card positioned within the envelope. The first card has a bottom surface and a plurality of containers mounted to the bottom surface of the first card. Each of the containers mounted to the first card defines a cavity dimensioned to hold a respective product. A second card is positioned within the envelope. The second card has a bottom surface facing the bottom surface of the first card. A plurality of containers are mounted to the bottom surface of the second card. Each of the containers mounted to the second card defines a cavity dimensioned to hold a respective product. The containers mounted to the first card are offset from the containers mounted to the second card.

A feed unit for articles includes: a first feeding device; a second feeding device for individually picking up the articles from the first feeding device at a removal location at a predetermined time interval; and a synchronization device for receiving the articles from the first feeding device and to moving the articles into the removal location. A control system is also provided, to adjust the speed of the synchronization device in such a manner that each article reaches the removal location at the predetermined time interval in order to be picked up by the second feeding device.

A feed unit for articles includes: a first feeding device; a second feeding device for individually picking up the articles from the first feeding device at a removal location at a predetermined time interval; and a synchronization device for receiving the articles from the first feeding device and to moving the articles into the removal location. A control system is also provided, to adjust the speed of the synchronization device in such a manner that each article reaches the removal location at the predetermined time interval in order to be picked up by the second feeding device.

A box forming carousel apparatus including a frame, a rotating carton retainer, a first side carton folding assembly, a second side carton folding assembly and an axle. The frame has a bottom, and first and second sides. The rotating carton retainer is rotatably coupled to the frame and has a plurality of slot assemblies radially spaced apart, each slot assembly having a leading wall, a following wall and a base wall. Each slot assembly structurally configured to retain a box therein. The first side carton folding assembly is structurally configured to fold a plurality of flaps of the box on a first side thereof. The second side carton folding assembly is structurally configured to fold a plurality of flaps of the box on a second side thereof. The axle extends between the first side and the second side of the frame spaced apart from the bottom of the frame.

A box forming carousel apparatus including a frame, a rotating carton retainer, a first side carton folding assembly, a second side carton folding assembly and an axle. The frame has a bottom, and first and second sides. The rotating carton retainer is rotatably coupled to the frame and has a plurality of slot assemblies radially spaced apart, each slot assembly having a leading wall, a following wall and a base wall. Each slot assembly structurally configured to retain a box therein. The first side carton folding assembly is structurally configured to fold a plurality of flaps of the box on a first side thereof. The second side carton folding assembly is structurally configured to fold a plurality of flaps of the box on a second side thereof. The axle extends between the first side and the second side of the frame spaced apart from the bottom of the frame.

An apparatus for closing a flap on an open end of a box may include a device having a slot and a mechanism operable to provide a relative motion between the slot and the flap. The relative motion may cause the flap to be received into the slot and the flap to be reoriented to a closed position. A method of closing an open end of a box being conveyed downstream, with the open end facing transversely, may include two operations. With a trailing minor flap on the open end being held in a substantially upstream-pointing open position, the opposing leading minor flap on the open end may be closed from a substantially downstream-pointing open position to a substantially upstream-pointing closed position. With the leading minor flap being held in the closed position, the trailing minor flap may be closed from the open position to a substantially downstream-pointing closed position.

An apparatus for closing a flap on an open end of a box may include a device having a slot and a mechanism operable to provide a relative motion between the slot and the flap. The relative motion may cause the flap to be received into the slot and the flap to be reoriented to a closed position. A method of closing an open end of a box being conveyed downstream, with the open end facing transversely, may include two operations. With a trailing minor flap on the open end being held in a substantially upstream-pointing open position, the opposing leading minor flap on the open end may be closed from a substantially downstream-pointing open position to a substantially upstream-pointing closed position. With the leading minor flap being held in the closed position, the trailing minor flap may be closed from the open position to a substantially downstream-pointing closed position.