Systems and methods for securing product orientation in a package

Abstract

Systems and methods for securing an orientation of a container ( 40 ) in a package ( 25 ) are disclosed, which includes positioning a plurality of containers in a predetermined orientation, wrapping the arrangement of containers in a paperboard package, and applying an adhesive ( 50 ) within the package to secure the orientation of at least one container in the package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of securing an orientation of containers in a package comprising:
 positioning a plurality of containers in a predetermined orientation;   wrapping the plurality of containers in a paperboard package; and   applying an adhesive within the package to secure the orientation of at least one of the plurality of containers in the package.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying an adhesive within the package comprises applying glue to at least one spot on an interior surface of the package. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying an adhesive within the package comprises applying glue to at least one spot on an interior surface of a side panel of the package. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying an adhesive within the package comprises applying glue to at least one spot on an interior surface of a bottom panel of the package. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying an adhesive within the package comprises applying glue to at least one spot on an interior surface of the package before wrapping the containers in the package. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying an adhesive within the package comprises applying glue to at least one spot on an interior surface of the package after wrapping the containers in the package. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying an adhesive within the package comprises applying glue to at least one spot between two adjacent containers in the package. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying an adhesive within the package comprises applying glue before positioning the containers in the predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying an adhesive within the package comprises applying glue after positioning the containers in the predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         10 . A method of securing an orientation of a group of beverage containers in a package having opposed open ends comprising:
 positioning a plurality of beverage containers in a predetermined orientation;   wrapping the plurality of beverage containers in a paperboard package so that certain beverage containers in the group are visible through the opposed open ends of the package; and   applying an adhesive in predetermined locations within the package to secure the orientation of at least the beverage containers that are visible through the opposed open ends of the package.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying an adhesive in predetermined locations within the package comprises applying glue to an interior surface of each of two side panels of the package. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying an adhesive in predetermined locations within the package comprises applying glue to an interior surface of a bottom panel portion of the package. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying an adhesive in predetermined locations within the package comprises applying glue to one or more interior surfaces of the package before wrapping the beverage containers in the package. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying an adhesive in predetermined locations within the package comprises applying glue to one or more interior surfaces of the package after wrapping the beverage containers in the package. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying an adhesive in predetermined locations within the package comprises applying glue between adjacent beverage containers in the package. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying an adhesive in predetermined locations within the package comprises applying glue before positioning the beverage containers in the predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying an adhesive in predetermined locations within the package comprises applying glue after positioning the beverage containers in the predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         18 . A package of secured containers comprising:
 a plurality of containers positioned in a predetermined orientation;   a paperboard package blank wrapped around the containers; and   an adhesive applied within the package in predefined locations to secure the containers in the predetermined orientation within the package.   
     
     
         19 . A package of secured containers as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive is applied to one or more interior surfaces of the package to secure the containers in the predetermined orientation within the package. 
     
     
         20 . A package of secured containers as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the one or more interior surfaces of the package to which the adhesive is applied comprises one or more of: a side panel portion of the package, and a bottom panel portion of the package. 
     
     
         21 . A package of secured beverage containers as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the adhesive is applied between adjacent containers in the package to secure the containers in the predetermined orientation within the package. 
     
     
         22 . A system for packaging containers comprising:
 a conveyor for transporting a group of containers in a predetermined orientation;   a packaging station disposed along the conveyor, wherein a package blank is wrapped around the group of containers; and   a glue gun adjacent the packaging station for applying an adhesive within the package to secure the group of containers in the predetermined orientation within the package.   
     
     
         23 . A system for packaging beverage containers as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the glue gun is a high speed, hot melt adhesive gun configured to apply a hot melt adhesive onto a moving surface. 
     
     
         24 . A system for packaging beverage containers as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the glue gun comprises a nozzle, and the glue gun is mounted relative to the packaging station so that an outlet of the nozzle is positioned approximately  2  to  5  mm from the surface to which the adhesive is to be applied within the package. 
     
     
         25 . A system for packaging beverage containers as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the conveyor is configured to position the containers in the predetermined orientation in advance of the packaging station. 
     
     
         26 . A system for packaging beverage containers as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the conveyor is configured to position the containers in the predetermined orientation within the packaging station after the package blank is wrapped around the group of containers.