A packaging system for the selection, grouping and loading of varying size and/or configuration product packs into cartons as provided. The packaging system includes a selection area having a primary selector for forming an initial product pack configuration, and a secondary selector adapted to select and direct an additional grouping of products into a nested arrangement against the initial product pack so as to form a nested product pack. The nested product packs thereafter can be engaged by loader arms of a pair of opposed loading assemblies, which move the nested product packs into a series of cartons moving through the packaging machine. Thereafter, the ends of the cartons can be closed and sealed to complete the packaging of the product packs therein.

A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises at least one panel that can form an interior of the carton. The carton comprises at least one protection feature for protecting the articles from breakage. The article protection feature can comprise at least one feature in end flaps of the carton. The article protection feature can comprise an article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel. The article protection flap can be moveable between a first position and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel.

A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises at least one panel that can form an interior of the carton. The carton comprises at least one protection feature for protecting the articles from breakage. The article protection feature can comprise at least one feature in end flaps of the carton. The article protection feature can comprise an article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel. The article protection flap can be moveable between a first position and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles, and a blank (10) for forming the article carrier. The article carrier comprises a plurality of panels (12,14,16,18,20,22,24) forming a tubular structure for surrounding at least one article. The article carrier comprises an article retention device for engaging a recess of at least one article to prevent or inhibit dislodgement or unintentional egress of the article from at least one of opposite open ends of the tubular structure. The article retention device comprises an engaging tab (40,42) hingedly connected to one of the plurality of panels, which may be a base panel. The point of contact between the engaging tab and an inside surface of a recess in the bottom of the article is farthermost from the adjacent end edge of a respective one of a pair of bottom lap panels.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles, and a blank (10) for forming the article carrier. The article carrier comprises a plurality of panels (12,14,16,18,20,22,24) forming a tubular structure for surrounding at least one article. The article carrier comprises an article retention device for engaging a recess of at least one article to prevent or inhibit dislodgement or unintentional egress of the article from at least one of opposite open ends of the tubular structure. The article retention device comprises an engaging tab (40,42) hingedly connected to one of the plurality of panels, which may be a base panel. The point of contact between the engaging tab and an inside surface of a recess in the bottom of the article is farthermost from the adjacent end edge of a respective one of a pair of bottom lap panels.

The present invention provides a shaping tool for shaping a package formed of a foldable blank, the tool comprising: —an overhead conveyor comprising a plurality of downwardly protruding spaced apart counter-means; —a first conveyor extending between a receiving end towards an output end, and adapted to receive the foldable blank from an incoming conveying line at the receiving end and to position the foldable blank below one of the downwardly protruding counter-means; —a shaping station extending away from the receiving end, the shaping station comprising: a pair of parallel shaping tracks, each positioned on one side of the first conveyor, the pair of generally parallel shaping tracks comprising a plurality of pairs of independently movable shaping lugs, each pair of shaping lugs having a predetermined shape and adapted to receive one of the foldable blanks there-between; the pair of lugs movable towards each other to form a package having a desired shape.

Disclosed are a method and a device (1) used to package articles into printed packaging blanks (2). In the method, a plurality of packaging blanks are first positioned in a magazine (4) and subsequently extracted from the magazine (4).

Subsequently, articles are brought together with the packaging blanks (2) extracted from the magazine (4) such that a particular packaging blank (2) hereby forms a particular packaging or a particular component of a particular packaging for in each instance at least one article.

It is moreover provided that the packaging blanks (2) are printed onto, with the printing onto a packaging blank (2) being carried out temporally after the positioning of the packaging blank (2) in the magazine (4) and temporally before the particular bringing together of the packaging blank (2) with the particular at least one article.

The device (1) can be operated in a corresponding manner.

A system including a pair of prongs extending in a transverse direction, spaced apart from one another by a gap configured to receive carton blanks and product containers therein, and to crease retention flaps of the carton blank, wherein each prong travels along a cam path, a panel extending in a longitudinal direction in-between the pair of prongs configured to support the product containers and guide the retentions flaps, a pair of asymmetrical guide rails underneath the panel configured to alternatingly crease a first primary flap and a second primary flap of the carton blank, and a conveyor mechanism proximate to the panel configured to move they product container and a carton blanks along the panel.

A system including a pair of prongs extending in a transverse direction, spaced apart from one another by a gap configured to receive carton blanks and product containers therein, and to crease retention flaps of the carton blank, wherein each prong travels along a cam path, a panel extending in a longitudinal direction in-between the pair of prongs configured to support the product containers and guide the retentions flaps, a pair of asymmetrical guide rails underneath the panel configured to alternatingly crease a first primary flap and a second primary flap of the carton blank, and a conveyor mechanism proximate to the panel configured to move they product container and a carton blanks along the panel.

A wraparound sleeving system is provided and comprises a sleeving machine having a conveyor for transporting packaging sleeves. The packaging sleeves comprise one or more apertures for receiving a portion of one or more respective products. The sleeving machine comprises a folder for folding the sleeve so as to wrap a portion of said sleeve over or around a portion of said product after said portion of said product is received in said aperture.