A container carrier (100) with a uniform pitch applicating feature for applying container carriers onto containers to form a multipackage. A uniform series of apertures (112) is formed on the container carrier in the machine direction of a multipack carrier. Application machines may use the apertures for synchronizing the container carrier material to the containers, thereby making it container pitch independent. The resulting internal features of the carrier that would receive the containers can then be varied to best match the containers with little to no impact to the application machine.

The invention relates to a packaging apparatus (1) and a method used to produce packaging units (35). The packaging units (35) comprise at least one article (30), in particular at least one beverage can (31), with at least one at least in some areas flatly designed packaging blank (20) arranged on the article (30) or beverage can (31). The packaging blank (20) has at least one passage opening (23) in the flatly designed area for the at least one article (30). The packaging apparatus (1) comprises at least one feeder device (2) for the at least one article (30) or for assemblies (40) of at least two articles (30); a pre-treatment module (9) to prepare the packaging blank (20) for the application to the at least one article (30); and a first packaging module (7) to apply and locate the packaging blank (20) to the at least one article (30). The pre-treatment module (9) comprises at least one device designed to reduce a resistance force in an edge area (24) of the passage openings (23) of the packaging blank (20) during the subsequent application of the packaging blank (20) to the at least one article (30).

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carrier (90) for packaging one or more articles B, a blank (10) for forming the carrier and a method of forming the carrier. In one aspect a top-engaging article carrier is provided for packaging at least one article. The article carrier comprises a main panel (12) including at least one a top engaging device having a top-receiving opening. The main panel comprises a laminated structure formed from two or more layers L1, L2 of a substrate (50) uniformly bonded together.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carrier (90) for packaging one or more articles B, a blank (10) for forming the carrier and a method of forming the carrier. In one aspect a top-engaging article carrier is provided for packaging at least one article. The article carrier comprises a main panel (12) including at least one a top engaging device having a top-receiving opening. The main panel comprises a laminated structure formed from two or more layers L1, L2 of a substrate (50) uniformly bonded together.

An apparatus (1) for assembling several beverage containers (2) into a multipack (4) is disclosed. The apparatus (1) comprises a horizontal conveying device (5) for moving groupings (3), each grouping (3) comprising several beverage containers (2). The apparatus (1) also comprises at least one working device (25) that applies packaging blanks (41) to the groupings (3). The beverage containers (2) of a grouping (3) pass through openings in the packaging blank (41) and are held together by the packaging blank (41). The apparatus (1) furthermore comprises at least one handling apparatus (15) which places the beverage containers (2) on the horizontal conveying device (5) such that the beverage containers (2) are in alignment with respect to one another. The alignment of the beverage containers (2) allows the packaging blank (41) to be applied to the beverage containers (2) directly upon their placement on the horizontal conveying device (5).

A pivotal pawl assembly for a can carrier applicator apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes spaced-apart and vertically disposed first and second support walls. The first and second support walls define a can passageway having a forward end and a rearward end. A vertically disposed spacer is vertically movably positioned at the forward end of the support walls with the lower end of the spacer being positioned above the lower ends of the support walls. The pawl assembly is positioned at the lower rearward end of the spacer. A plurality of stacked can carriers are positioned above the can passageway. A dispensing mechanism sequentially dispenses a can carrier which drops downwardly onto the cans. The pawl assembly not only limits the forward movement of the can carrier but also exerts downward force on the can carrier to seat the can carrier onto the cans moving through the can passageway.

A pivotal pawl assembly for a can carrier applicator apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes spaced-apart and vertically disposed first and second support walls. The first and second support walls define a can passageway having a forward end and a rearward end. A vertically disposed spacer is vertically movably positioned at the forward end of the support walls with the lower end of the spacer being positioned above the lower ends of the support walls. The pawl assembly is positioned at the lower rearward end of the spacer. A plurality of stacked can carriers are positioned above the can passageway. A dispensing mechanism sequentially dispenses a can carrier which drops downwardly onto the cans. The pawl assembly not only limits the forward movement of the can carrier but also exerts downward force on the can carrier to seat the can carrier onto the cans moving through the can passageway.

A cup carrier formed from a flexible sheet of material includes a base portion connected to a handle portion. Each of one or more cup-holding portions formed in the base portion includes a cup-holding aperture. The base portion includes one or more base fasteners that are mated to one or more base fasteners of another cup carrier. The handle portion includes one or more handle fasteners that are mated to one or more handle fasteners of another cup carrier.

A carrier and method of manufacture for a carrier that results in a package of containers includes a plastic sheet having an array of container apertures and a portion having a printed matte finish where the printed matte finish includes a lower coefficient of friction relative to a container than a remaining surface of the plastic sheet. A plurality of containers are each positioned within an aperture of the array so that the printed matte finish of the plastic sheet is positioned along an inner portion of the package and the remaining surface of the plastic sheet is positioned along an outer portion of the package.

The present invention relates to a top lid for beverage cans, with an opener built into a hygienic cover. The hygienic cover is designed to cover the area around the opening part defined in the top lid, thereby protecting the contact portion of the lip of the top lid from atmospheric impurities and keeping the can clean during storage. The hygienic cover also has an opening system that presses on the opening part of the lid and breaks the part along the recessed seam when the cover is levered. The opening system has a reinforcement notch that improves the rigidity of the opening system, such that the opening system reliably breaks the opening part of the lid without failure, even if a high pressure is acting on the inner surface of the opening part. The configuration and arrangement of the notch in the opening system can be changed freely according to the design conditions of the can, or the internal pressure acting on the opening part and the size of the can. The hygienic cover also includes a handle that can be operated by the user with the fingers in order to lift same. This handle makes it easy for a user to grip and handle the cover while lifting said cover in order to open the top lid of the beverage can.