A machine that forms groups of containers by wrapping containers in a film blank includes an adhesive applicator that is arranged along a film-transporter for applying adhesive onto an inner side of the film blank and along longitudinal side edges of the film blank before the containers are wrapped. The placement of the adhesive avoids distortion of images or text that are printed on the film blank due to shrinkage.

A method of loading articles in cartons. The method can comprise moving a carton in a generally flat configuration in a downstream direction with a carton opening carousel, at least partially opening the carton while moving the carton with the carton opening carousel, and transferring the carton from the carton opening carousel to a carton loading carousel in a transfer region. The transferring the carton can comprise moving the carton in an upstream direction. The method further can comprise loading a plurality of articles into the carton while moving the carton in a downstream direction with the carton loading carousel.

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 system is disclosed for loading cases with items comprising: an item delivery apparatus operable to deliver a plurality of items to a transfer station; a collation platform operable to support a group of items; a pedestal apparatus operable to support the group of items; a first transfer apparatus operable to transfer a plurality of items from the item delivery apparatus to the collation platform. A second transfer apparatus transfers the group of items from the collation platform to the pedestal apparatus. At least one movement rod moves the group of items. A case movement apparatus such as a six-axis robotic arm is moves an erected case in a path that sheaths a group of items located on said pedestal apparatus with an erected case. The path of the case may have a tilted position and include an arced pivoting movement.

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 carrier for at least partially holding a plurality of articles can comprise a plurality of panels that can comprise at least a top panel, a side panel, and a bottom panel. A plurality of article receiver features can be disposed in at least the top panel in at least a first row and a second row. The first row can comprise at least one more article receiver feature than the second row. Each article receiver feature of the plurality of article receiver features can be for at least partially receiving a respective article of the plurality of articles. A retention feature can extend in at least one of the side panel and the bottom panel. The retention feature can be for at least partially retaining at least one article that is at least partially received in a respective one of the article receiving features in the first row.

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier has a bottom panel, at least one front panel, at least one back panel, at least two side panels, and at least one central panel dividing the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion. At least one front divider flap is foldably connected to the at least one central panel and at least one back divider flap is foldably connected to the at least one central panel. At least one retention flap is foldably connected to at least one of the at least one front panel, the at least one back panel, the at least two side panels, and the at least one central panel. The at least one retention flap engages a container and provides stability to the respective container in one of the front or back container-receiving spaces.

A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton and a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The plurality of end flaps are at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton. The carton also can comprise at least one article protection flap foldably connected to at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps for engaging at least one article of the plurality of articles. The at least one article protection flap extends from the closed end at least partially into the interior of the carton.

A method includes folding leading upper flap of a carton blank, folding a trailing upper flap of a carton blank, and passing the leading and trailing upper flaps in a folded condition into a gap between a pair of guide rails. The method includes interlocking the leading upper flap into a leading can in a pack of product, interlocking the trailing upper flap into a trailing can in a pack of product, and wrapping the carton blank around the pack of product to package the pack of product together.

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.