A generally continuous string of container carriers are positioned on a base (35) wherein container carriers are housed on multiple reels (40) and are spliced together between adjacent reels to form the generally continuous string and the multiple reels are arranged on at least one axle (55) for dispensing.

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a top retainer comprising a top attachment panel for at least partially receiving the plurality of containers, and a bottom retainer comprising a bottom attachment panel for being attached to the plurality of containers.

A group of beverage containers that are each uniquely identified within the group, each having a container label and a removable cap. There are a plurality of beverage containers removably held together in a group such that a consumer is able to remove one or more containers from the group. There are the same plurality of separate identifying graphics, each graphic of the plurality of graphics unique from all other graphics of the plurality of separate identifying graphics. Each container has one of the plurality of separate identifying graphics applied to both its cap and its label, wherein each container of the group is thus uniquely identified relative to all other containers of the group. If a cap is removed from a container of the group it can be matched up to its original container by matching the unique identifying graphic that is applied both to the container and to the cap.

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.

Beverage carriers including a body, a beverage hole, and a slit. The beverage hole is defined in the body and complementarily configured with a beverage container to receive and selectively secure the beverage container. The slit is defined in the body and configured to establish a tear line through the body when the body is pulled in opposing directions proximate the slit.

Thin polymer sheets and used thereof are described. A polymer sheet can include greater than 90 wt. % of a single-site catalyzed polyolefin (PO) and have a thickness of at least 0.0254 cm. The sheet can be used to produce molded articles.

A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers. The carrier includes a planar sheet of a material and a plurality of container receiving apertures within the planar sheet and arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. Each of the plurality of container receiving apertures includes a central opening shape and a plurality of clefts radially extending in the planar sheet outward from the central shape to form a plurality of container friction flaps each adapted to extend along a side wall of a corresponding container of the plurality of containers.

A biodegradable flexible container carrier is formed using a biodegradable plastic material that defines an array of apertures for receiving beverage containers. The biodegradable plastic material includes at least one of a) a polyolefin mixed with a prodegradant additive, b) a polyolefin extruded with a biodegradable co-resin, and c) a biodegradable structural polymer.