A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes an attachment panel having a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving respective containers of the plurality of containers, and container retention features including the plurality of container retention openings and at least one container retention tab in at least partial face-to-face contact with the attachment panel and for being positioned between adjacent containers of the plurality of containers to urge the plurality of containers into engagement with the attachment panel.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a carrier (90) for packaging one or more articles B and a blank (10) for forming the carrier. The package comprises an article carrier and one or more articles. The carrier comprises an engaging panel (18) having one or more top-receiving openings A2, A3. Each of the one or more articles is received in a respective one of the top-receiving openings so as to be secured to the engaging panel. The carrier further comprises at least one wing panel (20). The at least one wing panel is hinged to the engaging panel and the wing panel is adhered to at least one article.

A container-carrying device includes a body that has on the surface at least one opening that is sized for a container to be passed and tightly inserted therethrough. The opening has a contour that has at least one tab extended towards the inside of the same opening, which defines a transition region between the tab and the body. The tab has folding or bending capability in relation to the body. The contour has a rounded chamfer geometry on at least one section adjacent to the transition region between at least one tab and the body.

A container-carrying device includes a body that has on the surface at least one opening that is sized for a container to be passed and tightly inserted therethrough. The opening has a contour that has at least one tab extended towards the inside of the same opening, which defines a transition region between the tab and the body. The tab has folding or bending capability in relation to the body. The contour has a rounded chamfer geometry on at least one section adjacent to the transition region between at least one tab and the body.

A system for packaging two or more containers with a paperboard carrier having two or more apertures. Each aperture has a plurality of tabs formed at an inside edge thereof that bend upward when contacting a lower edge of a chime of one of the containers. The system includes a platen having apertures for pressing the carrier down uniformly onto the containers and a carrier support configured for maintaining the carrier in the flat configuration as the platen presses the carrier onto the containers substantially simultaneously. Some embodiments of the system include a one-piece manual applicator, while other embodiments include a semi-automatic apparatus that includes a carrier support with retractable carrier support plates and a linear actuator for pressing the platen and carrier down on the containers. A method of use is also disclosed.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a carrier (90) for packaging one or more articles and a blank (210) for forming the carrier. The package comprises a cover panel (220) having at least four corners and at least four edges each extending between two respective corners of the at least four corners. The panel comprising a plurality of top-receiving openings A1-A7 each for receiving an upper portion of an article and a billboard area (222) within which none of the top-receiving openings are located. The top-receiving openings include at least four corner openings located at the at least four corners respectively for securing the cover panels to a group of articles. The billboard area is defined by at least two severance lines (223a-223d) formed in the panel.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a carrier (90) for packaging one or more articles and a blank (210) for forming the carrier. The package comprises a cover panel (220) having at least four corners and at least four edges each extending between two respective corners of the at least four corners. The panel comprising a plurality of top-receiving openings A1-A7 each for receiving an upper portion of an article and a billboard area (222) within which none of the top-receiving openings are located. The top-receiving openings include at least four corner openings located at the at least four corners respectively for securing the cover panels to a group of articles. The billboard area is defined by at least two severance lines (223a-223d) formed in the panel.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. The article carrier (90; 290) comprises a plurality of top-engaging openings or engaging structures RT1, RT2, RTS each having an annular series of engaging teeth or tabs (16; 216) along the perimeter of that opening. The annular series of engaging tabs (16; 216) of each opening is interrupted by at most two gaps (26, 26A, 26B). A notional diametrical line z-z′ passes through the center of each of the at most two gaps (26, 26A, 26B) and extends substantially perpendicular to the grain direction GR of paper material from which the article carrier (90; 290) is formed.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. The article carrier (90; 290) comprises a plurality of top-engaging openings or engaging structures RT1, RT2, RTS each having an annular series of engaging teeth or tabs (16; 216) along the perimeter of that opening. The annular series of engaging tabs (16; 216) of each opening is interrupted by at most two gaps (26, 26A, 26B). A notional diametrical line z-z′ passes through the center of each of the at most two gaps (26, 26A, 26B) and extends substantially perpendicular to the grain direction GR of paper material from which the article carrier (90; 290) is formed.

A method for processing at least one blank for forming a carrier for containers includes obtaining at least one blank including a central panel having plurality of container openings and at least one container retention tab extending into respective container openings of the plurality of container openings. The method further includes inserting 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 having a forming belt and a forming wheel, moving the at least one blank between the forming belt and the forming wheel, 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.