Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging system, an apparatus for forming a package, an article carrier (90; 290) for packaging one or more articles, a plurality of connected blanks (10A-B; 110A-D; 310A-F, 410A-C) for forming carriers, and to a method of packaging one or more articles. The blanks (10A-B; 110A-D; 310A-F, 410A-C) comprise a main panel (12; 112; 312; 412) having one or more article retention structures (RT; RT1, RT2) for receiving and securing the main panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) to a respective article (B). The plurality of connected blanks (10A-B; 110A-D; 310A-F, 410A-C) comprise frangible connections therebetween which are sever prior to application of the blanks (10A-B; 110A-D; 310A-F, 410A-C) to groups of articles (B).

A method for processing at least one blank for forming a carrier for a plurality of containers, the method includes obtaining at least one blank having a central panel with plurality of container openings and at least one container retention tab extending into respective container openings of the plurality of container openings, loading the at least one blank into a blank infeed assembly, moving the at least one blank from the infeed assembly to a blank processing assembly, the blank processing assembly including a forming belt having a plurality of openings extending at least partially therethrough for being aligned with respective container openings of the plurality of containers openings of the at least one blank, and moving the at least one blank to a product engagement portion of the blank processing assembly such that the at least one blank is positioned for engagement with a group of containers.

An apparatus for faulting a carton containing a group of articles and a method of forming a carton. The apparatus comprises an article positioning system for positioning articles into a plurality of groups of articles and moving the groups of articles along a processing path, a blank handling apparatus for conveying a plurality of carton blanks towards the plurality of groups of articles, and a folding mechanism that is downstream of the blank handling apparatus for folding a portion of the ends of each respective carton blank downwardly around the respective group of articles.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging system, method of packaging, apparatus, handle structure, an article carrier (90) for packaging a plurality of articles (B), and to a blank (10; 110; 210; 410; 510; 610; 710) for forming the handle structure or article carrier (90). The packaging system provides an apparatus (1000) for applying the handle structure or article carrier (90) to one of more articles (B). The apparatus (1000) provides component (1020; 1120) adapted to engage the handle structure or article carrier (90) so as to displace a first side of the handle structure or article carrier (90), disposed on a first side of an article retention structure RT to a greater extent than a second side of the handle structure or article carrier (90), disposed on a second, opposing, side of an article retention structure RT.

An apertured plastics film (100,110) for holding containers together to form a unitised carrier package, includes apertures (101) for respectively holding a single container wherein internal edge portions of each aperture form tab elements (102-105) for contacting the container when positioned within an aperture, and engaging with a beading of the container, and has a plastics cover sheet (120) applied to the apertured plastics film (100,110) and covering the apertures, wherein the plastics cover sheet (120) is attached to the apertured plastics film at least at edge portions of the apertured plastics film or edges of the apertures, and wherein a portion of the cover material (120) is deformed locally at each aperture to effect localised expansion by a former (146,151) before the apertured plastics film is applied to the containers.

For transporting packaging bags (1), e.g. from a production facility to further processing, e.g. for being filled, the packaging bags (1) are connected to at least one flexible strip (13, 14). To this end, the packaging bags (1) are delivered one after another to a loading device where they are supported by their weld-in closures (4) on supporting and guiding means (9) and moved along these supporting and guiding means (9; 10). On the latter, the weld-in closures are connected to the strip (13, 14), e.g. by welding.

An applicating machine for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes a jaw drum for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided and a cutoff device for cutting the carrier into a desired size. The cutoff device includes an adjustable beam positionable into multiple angular positions relative to a flow of the plurality of containers depending on the desired size of the multipack.

A system for packaging containers within a flexible container carrier includes a generally continuous string of container carriers arranged with divisible weakened connections between adjacent individual container carriers that is fed through an applicating machine for applying the container carriers to individual containers. A cut-off device is arranged downstream of the applicating machine to selectively accelerate or decelerate the containers to separate the generally continuous string into individual container carriers.

A method and device for stacking layers of goods (2) is based on a stacking device (1) that includes a handling mechanism (15) which handles, laterally moves, and stacks loose slip-on receptacles (3). The loose slip-on receptacles (3) are open on the bottom, accommodate a layer of goods (2) in the interior (11) thereof, and carry the layer of goods (2) along as the receptacles (3) are slidingly conveyed. An upward-facing bottom (7) of the slip-on receptacles (3) forms the supporting surface (8) for the subsequent layer of goods (2).

A method of at least partially forming packages. The method comprises moving a blank and a plurality of articles in a downstream direction through a clipping station. The blank can comprise at least a first attachment panel, a second attachment panel, and a keel portion extending from the first attachment panel to the second attachment panel. The method further can comprise forming a clipped assembly by clipping the first attachment panel and the second attachment panel of the blank to respective articles of the plurality of articles during the moving the blank and the plurality of articles through the clipping station and forming a keel by moving articles of the plurality of articles toward one another and folding the keel portion of the blank between the articles as the clipped assembly is moved in the downstream direction.