Packaging system

Abstract

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 ).

1 . An article engaging carrier for packaging at least one article, the carrier comprising a main panel having at least one article retention structure for engaging an article, the carrier comprising 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 of a packaging apparatus. 
     
     
         2 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , comprising a side panel hingedly connected to the main panel by a hinged connection. 
     
     
         3 . An article carrier according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one registration edge is provided by a peripheral edge portion of the side panel. 
     
     
         4 . An article carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one registration edge comprises a leading registration edge and a trailing registration edge. 
     
     
         5 . An article carrier according to  claim 2 , comprising a cover panel hingedly connected to the side panel by a hinged connection. 
     
     
         6 . An article carrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one registration edge is provided by a peripheral edge portion of the cover panel. 
     
     
         7 . An article carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one registration edge comprises a leading registration edge and a trailing registration edge. 
     
     
         8 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , comprising a pair of opposing side panels each hingedly connected to the main panel by a hinged connection and comprising at least one registration edge. 
     
     
         9 . An article carrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one registration edge comprises a leading registration edge and a trailing registration edge. 
     
     
         10 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , comprising a pair of opposing side panels each hingedly connected to the main panel by a hinged connection, a cover panel hingedly connected to each of the pair of opposing side panels and comprising at least one registration edge. 
     
     
         11 . An article carrier according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one registration edge comprises a leading registration edge and a trailing registration edge. 
     
     
         12 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , comprising a pair of opposing end panels each hingedly connected to the main panel by a hinged connection. 
     
     
         13 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel having a peripheral edge portion providing at least one registration edge is hingedly connected to the main panel by one of a hinged connection and a hinge panel. 
     
     
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         15 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel comprises a pair of panels each having a registration edge, a linear notional line passing through the registration edge in each of pair of panels passes through an opening in the main panel defined by the at least one article retention structure. 
     
     
         16 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the main panel comprises at least one stabilisation device providing an opening in the main panel and configured to inhibit movement in two orthogonal directions. 
     
     
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         42 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a main panel having at least one article retention structure for engaging an article, the blank comprising at least one panel having a peripheral edge, wherein a portion of the peripheral edge provides at least one registration edge shaped to inhibit movement in two orthogonal directions when engaged by a reference device of a packaging apparatus. 
     
     
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         75 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is comprised of a first blank and a second blank adjacent to the first blank, the first blank being frangibly connected to the second blank by a frangible connection, each of the first and the second blanks comprising the main panel having at least one article retention structure for engaging an article, the first and second blanks comprising the at least one panel having the peripheral edge, the portion of which provides the at least one registration edge shaped to inhibit movement in two orthogonal directions when engaged by the reference device of the packaging apparatus. 
     
     
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         81 . A blank for forming an article engaging carrier for packaging at least one article, the blank comprising a main panel having at least one article retention structure for engaging an article, the main panel comprising at least one stabilization device providing an opening in the main panel to inhibit movement of the blank in two orthogonal directions when the opening receives a stabilizing peg of an applicator for pressing the main panel onto the at least one article. 
     
     
         82 . A blank according to  claim 81 , wherein the blank further 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 of a packaging apparatus. 
     
     
         83 . A blank according to  claim 81 , wherein the opening is defined by at least one tab struck from the main panel and hingedly connected thereto. 
     
     
         84 . A blank according to  claim 81  wherein the opening is non-circular in shape to inhibit rotational movement of the blank when the opening receives a stabilizing peg of an applicator having a non-circular cross section. 
     
     
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