A conveyor system for grouping containers including a conveyor module configured to convey and meter a stream of containers of various dimensions a first star wheel and a second star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path, wherein the first containers each have a first geometric center, and wherein the first travel path is defined by the geometric center of the first containers, and a third star wheel and a fourth star wheel configured to move a plurality of second containers along a second travel path, wherein the second containers each have a second geometric center, and wherein the second travel path is defined by the geometric center of the second containers, wherein the first travel path and the second travel path are substantially similar.

A carton for containing a plurality of containers includes a bottom panel, at least one top panel, at least one side panel, at least one top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel, at least one bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel, and at least one side end flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel. The carton further includes a handle including a handle strap separable from the at least one top panel and foldably connected to a relief portion, the relief portion being defined by spaced apart cuts in the at least one top end flap, the relief portion for being positioned in a container gap defined by a nested arrangement of the plurality of containers when the handle is activated.

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.

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.

A machine that forms groups of containers by wrapping containers in a film blank includes an adhesive applicator that is arranged along a film-transporter for applying adhesive onto an inner side of the film blank and along longitudinal side edges of the film blank before the containers are wrapped. The placement of the adhesive avoids distortion of images or text that are printed on the film blank due to shrinkage.

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.

A bundling machine includes a wrapper that wraps the combination while it rests on a forward end of a paper cutout and a rear end of the paper cutout overlaps the forward end of the paper cutout while the combination moves in a transport direction, a transporter having a wrapping belt and a removal belt that follows the wrapping belt along the transport direction for conveying the combination of packages along a transport plane in the transport direction through the wrapper, and a controller that controls the relative speed of the belts so that, while the combination contacts both belts, the wrapping belt moves faster than the removal belt, thereby causing the rear end to sustain a tension in the direction of the forward end.

The present invention provides a packaging apparatus for in-line packaging wrapping of a foldable blank around a receiving load that is simultaneously dropped onto the loading space of the foldable blank. The packaging apparatus includes a support means adapted to receive a supply of one or more foldable blanks. The support means includes a support frame supported onto two or more parallel longitudinal rails positioned generally transversal to a direction of supply of foldable blanks. The apparatus further includes an article loading mechanism to load a group of articles onto a loading space defined onto the foldable blank received onto the support means. The apparatus furthermore includes an erecting mechanism having a plurality of generally spaced apart vertical lugs, positioned onto one or more sides of the support frame, and at a height lower than the height of longitudinal rails such that a vertically upward movement of the lugs engages and erects at least one side of the foldable blank around the articles already loaded onto the foldable blank.

The present invention provides a packaging apparatus for in-line packaging wrapping of a foldable blank around a receiving load that is simultaneously dropped onto the loading space of the foldable blank. The packaging apparatus includes a support means adapted to receive a supply of one or more foldable blanks. The support means includes a support frame supported onto two or more parallel longitudinal rails positioned generally transversal to a direction of supply of foldable blanks. The apparatus further includes an article loading mechanism to load a group of articles onto a loading space defined onto the foldable blank received onto the support means. The apparatus furthermore includes an erecting mechanism having a plurality of generally spaced apart vertical lugs, positioned onto one or more sides of the support frame, and at a height lower than the height of longitudinal rails such that a vertically upward movement of the lugs engages and erects at least one side of the foldable blank around the articles already loaded onto the foldable blank.

The present invention relates to a heat-shrinkable packaging intended for wrapping a series of containers, comprising a lower portion, an upper portion and lateral portions and having a reinforcement strip arranged transversely to the rows of containers, the packaging according to the present invention comprising at least two perforation lines. The present invention also relates to a method for packaging containers by means of a packaging and to a packaging blank.