WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC

Aspects of the disclosure relate to article carriers for forming a package and blanks for forming the article carriers. The blank comprises at least one panel having at least four article receiving openings. The at least one panel comprises a handle feature. The at least article receiving openings are arranged in two rows. The handle feature comprises at least one handle opening located at a center of the at least four article receiving openings. The at least one handle opening is defined at least in part by a pair of first tabs hingedly connected to the at least one panel by a pair of first divergent fold lines respectively. Each of the first tabs comprises a height dimension extending between the respective first fold line and a free end of that first tab. The height dimension may be equal to or greater than a distance between the centre and each of the first fold lines.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging system, an apparatus for forming an article carrier from a carrier blank and a method of forming an article carrier The apparatus (comprises a body having top wall) , opposed side walls and a first end wall. The opposed side walls and a first end wall depend from the top wall. The top wall comprises at least one article receiving opening in an inner surface thereof. The apparatus comprises a blank alignment device (CH) for aligning a blank with respect to the at least one article receiving opening. The blank alignment device (CH) comprises a blank receiving recess defined in each of the opposed side walls and in the first end wall. The blank receiving recess provides a support ledge for a carrier blank The blank receiving recess extends from a second open end of the body to the first end wall such that a carrier blank is slidably receivable therein.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. The article carrier ( 90; 290 ) comprises spaced apart panels ( 14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216 ) including a first side panel ( 14; 114; 214 ) and a second side panel ( 16; 116; 216 ). The spaced apart panels ( 14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216 ) are coupled to each other by a keel structure. The keel structure comprises a first keel panel ( 20 A, 20 F; 120 A, 120 F; 218 A, 218 F) hingedly connected to each of the pair of spaced apart panels ( 14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216 ) by a web panel (T 1 , V 1 , T 6 , V 6 ). The keel structure comprises an end flap ( 24 A, 24 B; 124 A, 124 B; 228 A, 228 B) hingedly connected to the first keel panel ( 20 A, 20 F; 120 A, 120 F; 218 A, 218 F) by a hinge line ( 25 A, 25 B; 125 A, 125 B; 229 A, 229 B) and disposed in face-to-face relationship with the first keel panel ( 20 A, 20 F; 120 A, 120 F; 218 A, 218 F). The first keel panel ( 20 A, 20 F; 120 A, 120 F; 218 A, 218 F) and the end flap ( 24 A, 24 B; 124 A, 124 B; 228 A, 228 B) form a two-ply handle structure H for carrying the article carrier ( 90; 290 ).

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article engaging device ( 390 ; 490 ; 590 ), an article carrier ( 90 ; 190 ) for packaging one or more articles and to a blank ( 10 ; 110 ; 210 ; 310 ; 410 ; 510 ) for forming the device or carrier. The device or carrier comprises a main panel ( 12 ; 112 ; 212 ; 312 ; 412 ; 512 ) including an article retention structure (RT; RT 1 , RT 2 ) having an article receiving opening defined in part by a plurality of engaging teeth ( 40 a , 40 b , 40 c , 40 d , 40 e ; 140 b , 140 c , 140 e ; 240 b , 246 , 250 ; 340 a , 340 c , 340 e ; 440 a , 440 c , 440 e ; 540 a , 540 e , 540 f ). The article retention structures (RT; RT 1 , R 2 ) comprise a cover panel ( 14 ; 114 ; 214 ; 314 ; 414 ; 514 ) coupled to the main panel ( 12 ; 112 ; 212 ; 312 ; 412 ; 512 ) by at least one, two or more bridging strips ( 42 ; 142 ; 242 ; 342 ; 442 ; 542 ). Each bridging strip ( 42 ; 142 ; 242 ; 342 ; 442 ; 542 ) extends from an engaging or connecting tooth ( 40 c , 40 d ; 140 c ; 240 c ; 340 c ; 440 c ; 540 e ) and is directly connected to the cover panel ( 14 ; 114 ; 214 ; 314 ; 414 ; 514 ).

A carton comprises a carton ( 90 ) comprising a plurality of carton walls including a pair of top and base walls ( 14 , 18 ), a pair of opposed side walls ( 16 , 20 ) and a pair of opposed end walls ( 22 A/ 24 A/ 26 A/ 28 A, 22 B/ 24 B/ 26 B/ 28 B). The carton further comprises an access device for splitting the carton ( 90 ) into a plurality of sections which include a pair of troughs (TR 1 , TR 2 ). Each of the troughs comprises a respective one of the end walls ( 22 A/ 24 A/ 26 A/ 28 A, 22 B/ 24 B/ 26 B/ 28 B) and at least two trough walls hingedly connected to one another and to the respective end wall. Each of the end walls is hingedly connected to the base wall ( 18 ) by a trough fold line ( 25 A, 25 B). The access device comprises a plurality of frangible lines ( 80/84, 82/86; 70/74, 72/76 ) extending in at least three ( 14, 16, 20 ) of the plurality of carton walls such that when the carton ( 90 ) is torn along the frangible lines ( 80/84, 82/86; 70/74, 72/76 ), each of the troughs (TR 1 , TR 2 ) becomes foldable about the respective trough fold line ( 25 A, 25 B).

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article carrier ( 90; 290; 490 ) for packaging one or more articles and to a blank ( 10; 110; 210; 310; 410 ) for forming the carrier. The carrier comprises a main panel ( 12; 112; 212, 222; 312, 322 A, 322 B; 412, 422 A, 422 B) including an article retention structure (RT; RT 1 , RT 2 ) having an article receiving opening defined in part by at least a pair of opposing engaging tabs ( 40, 42; 140, 142; 240, 242, 246, 248; 340, 342, 346, 348; 440, 442, 446, 448 ) each having a length (L 1 , L 2 ) greater than a half of the distance (L 3 ) between their hinged connections ( 13 A, 41; 213, 215, 241, 247, 249; 313, 315, 341, 347, 349; 413, 415, 441, 447, 449 ) to the main panel ( 12; 112; 212, 222; 312, 322 A, 322 B; 412, 422 A, 422 B).

A grouping system for grouping containers including a track oriented in a horizontal plane, a plurality of lugs coupled moveably to the track, and a plurality of grippers, wherein each gripper is coupled to a lug, wherein the grippers are configured to move a stream of containers about the track.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging system, an apparatus ( 400; 500; 600; 700 ) for forming a package, an article carrier ( 90; 190; 390; 490 ) for packaging one or more articles, a blank ( 10; 110; 310; 410 A-B) for forming the carrier, and to a method of packaging one or more articles. The carrier ( 90; 190; 390; 490 ) comprises a main panel ( 12; 112; 312; 412 ) having one or more article retention structures (RT 1 , RT 2 ) for receiving and securing the main panel ( 12; 112; 312; 412 ) to a respective article (B). The carrier ( 90; 190; 390; 490 ) comprises at least one panel having a peripheral edge, a portion of which provides at least one registration edge shaped to inhibit movement in two orthogonal directions when engaged by a reference device ( 440; 540; 640; 740 ) of a packaging apparatus ( 400; 500; 600; 700 ).

A packaging system includes a conveyor configured to convey a group of articles and a blank along a packaging path. The packaging system includes a folding machine configured to fold a first end panel of the blank relative to a main panel of the blank and to fold a second end panel of the blank relative to the main panel, after the first end panel is folded, as the group of articles and the blank travel along the packaging path. The packaging system includes an alignment machine configured to position a first side panel and a second side panel of the blank at a predetermined angle relative to the main panel as the group of articles and the blank travel along the packaging path.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. The carrier comprises a main panel having one or more article retention structures for receiving and securing the main panel to a respective article. The article retention structures each comprise a perimeter. The perimeter is interrupted by at least one major cutaway in the form of a notch or recess, and at least one minor cutaway in the form of a notch or recess, wherein the at least one major cutaway comprises a first angular dimension and the at least one minor cutaway comprises a second angular dimension, the first angular dimension being greater in magnitude than the second angular dimension.