A device for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers includes a base with a plurality of pockets and an indexing means and a carrier having a series of indexing features that correspond with the indexing means for placement of the carrier relative to the base, wherein a container may be inserted into one of the plurality of pockets of the base for desired alignment within the carrier.

A device for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers includes a base with a plurality of pockets and an indexing means and a carrier having a series of indexing features that correspond with the indexing means for placement of the carrier relative to the base, wherein a container may be inserted into one of the plurality of pockets of the base for desired alignment within the carrier.

Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming a beverage carrier yoke are described. The yoke comprises a number (e.g., four or six) collars interconnected by a web, and each collar exhibits dimensionsincluding a nominal diameter and a substantially uniform thicknessselected to improve strength and increase comfort. The yoke is produced using a slurry comprising a moisture barrier and a fiber base.

Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming a beverage carrier yoke are described. The yoke comprises a number (e.g., four or six) collars interconnected by a web, and each collar exhibits dimensionsincluding a nominal diameter and a substantially uniform thicknessselected to improve strength and increase comfort. The yoke is produced using a slurry comprising a moisture barrier and a fiber base.

An apparatus for applying an engagement collar to a group of articles, which includes an application area defining a horizontal support surface for receiving a group of articles, a horizontal press plate positioned above the support surface and mounted for vertical movement relative to the support surface, and an actuation assembly operatively connected to the press plate for moving the press plate relative to the support surface to apply an engagement collar to the group of articles positioned on the support surface within the application area, wherein the actuation assembly includes an actuation lever that is located below the press plate and in front of the application area to provide an ergonomic work environment.

An apparatus for applying an engagement collar to a group of articles, which includes an application area defining a horizontal support surface for receiving a group of articles, a horizontal press plate positioned above the support surface and mounted for vertical movement relative to the support surface, and an actuation assembly operatively connected to the press plate for moving the press plate relative to the support surface to apply an engagement collar to the group of articles positioned on the support surface within the application area, wherein the actuation assembly includes an actuation lever that is located below the press plate and in front of the application area to provide an ergonomic work environment.

Provided is a method for packaging piece good groupings, in which a plurality of piece goods, particularly containers, are at least partially interconnected by means of a first connection, wherein at least two-piece goods of this plurality are directly interconnected by the connection. According to the embodiment, this plurality of piece goods connected by the first connection is packaged with a second connection in the form of a second wrapping element, and said plurality of piece goods connected by a first connection is conveyed by a conveyor device to a packaging unit and enclosed, particularly wrapped, with the second wrapping element by said packaging unit.

Provided is a method for packaging piece good groupings, in which a plurality of piece goods, particularly containers, are at least partially interconnected by means of a first connection, wherein at least two-piece goods of this plurality are directly interconnected by the connection. According to the embodiment, this plurality of piece goods connected by the first connection is packaged with a second connection in the form of a second wrapping element, and said plurality of piece goods connected by a first connection is conveyed by a conveyor device to a packaging unit and enclosed, particularly wrapped, with the second wrapping element by said packaging unit.

A packaging system and method forms a bundled group of articles in an oriented arrangement, by applying a wrapping material to the articles via the bottoms of the articles while the oriented arrangement of articles is inverted and retained by a pallet. The wrapping material may be a sleeve of shrinkable material applied to the inverted end of the articles and shrunk to conform to the articles and form a base enclosing the bottoms of the articles. The articles are retained by the pallet in the oriented arrangement during the inverting, sleeving and bundling of the group of articles, to provide a bundled group including the articles securely contained by the shrunk wrapping in the oriented arrangement. The bundled group may include more than one type of article. The pallet may be operable to retain a top portion of the article, which may have an irregular or asymmetrical shape.

A packaging system and method forms a bundled group of articles in an oriented arrangement, by applying a wrapping material to the articles via the bottoms of the articles while the oriented arrangement of articles is inverted and retained by a pallet. The wrapping material may be a sleeve of shrinkable material applied to the inverted end of the articles and shrunk to conform to the articles and form a base enclosing the bottoms of the articles. The articles are retained by the pallet in the oriented arrangement during the inverting, sleeving and bundling of the group of articles, to provide a bundled group including the articles securely contained by the shrunk wrapping in the oriented arrangement. The bundled group may include more than one type of article. The pallet may be operable to retain a top portion of the article, which may have an irregular or asymmetrical shape.