Packaging system

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging system, an apparatus for forming a package, an article carrier ( 90; 290 ) for packaging one or more articles, a plurality of connected blanks ( 10 A-B; 110 A-D; 310 A-F, 410 A-C) for forming carriers, and to a method of packaging one or more articles. The blanks ( 10 A-B; 110 A-D; 310 A-F, 410 A-C) comprise a main panel ( 12; 112; 312; 412 ) having one or more article retention structures (RT; RT 1 , RT 2 ) for receiving and securing the main panel ( 12; 112; 212; 312; 412 ) to a respective article (B). The plurality of connected blanks ( 10 A-B; 110 A-D; 310 A-F, 410 A-C) comprise frangible connections therebetween which are sever prior to application of the blanks ( 10 A-B; 110 A-D; 310 A-F, 410 A-C) to groups of articles (B).

1 . An applicator device for separating a plurality of connected blanks into discrete blanks and pressing each a blank onto two or more groups of articles, the applicator comprises a plurality of article receiving orifices each for receiving a respective article and a disconnecting device for breaking frangible connections between adjacently disposed blanks. 
     
     
         2 . An applicator device according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises at least one stabilisation peg receivable in an opening of a stabilisation device provided in a main panel of each blank, the at least one stabilisation peg being configured to constrain movement of said blank with respect to the applicator. 
     
     
         3 . An applicator device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one stabilisation peg is detachably mounted to a plate in which the article receiving orifices are provided. 
     
     
         4 . An applicator device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one stabilisation peg is keyed to one of a given receiving location on the plate or a given receiving orientation with the respect to the plate. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An applicator device according to  claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises a plate and at least one guide depending therefrom for retaining the groups of articles in a predefined arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . An applicator device according to  claim 1 , wherein the disconnecting device comprises one or more blades mounted to a plate in which the article receiving orifices are provided. 
     
     
         8 . An applicator device according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more blades is detachably mounted to the plate. 
     
     
         9 . An applicator device according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more blades comprises at least one detent for engaging a catch in a slot provided in the plate. 
     
     
         10 . An applicator device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plate comprises one or more release openings for enabling release of the detent from the catch. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A disconnecting apparatus for separating a plurality of connected article carriers engaged with groups of articles, the disconnecting apparatus comprises a plate having a plurality of article receiving orifices each for receiving a respective article and a plurality of blade receiving locations each capable of detachably mounting a disconnecting blade for breaking frangible connections between adjacently disposed carriers, and a plurality of blades is detachably mounted to the plate, the plurality of blades being reconfigurable to a desired arrangement to accommodate a given configuration of connected carriers. 
     
     
         13 . A disconnecting apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blades is mountable to the plate in first arrangement to separate a first configuration of connected carriers and is mountable to the plate in second, different, arrangement to separate a second, different, configuration of connected carriers. 
     
     
         14 . A plurality of connected blanks for forming a plurality of article carriers, each blank being frangibly connected to at least one adjacent blank by a frangible connection comprising at least one pair of connecting nicks, each blank comprising an engaging panel having at least one article retention device for receiving and suspending an article therefrom, wherein an first article retention device in a first blank and a second article retention device in a second blank define a notional line passing through the centre of each of the first and second article retention devices, the notional line being perpendicular to a frangible connection between the first and second blank, and wherein a pair of connecting nicks are disposed on opposing sides of the notional line, the notional line defining a region of closest proximity between the first and second article retention devices. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for packaging one or more articles in an article carrier, the apparatus comprises an article engagement tool for engaging an article and conveying the article in a downstream direction, the article engagement tool comprises a reference device for aligning a plurality of connected blanks with two or more groups of articles. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus comprises an applicator for separating the plurality of connected blanks into discrete blanks and pressing each a blank onto the two or more groups of articles, the applicator comprises a plurality of article receiving orifices each for receiving a respective article and a disconnecting device for breaking frangible connections between adjacently disposed blanks. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the applicator comprises at least one stabilisation peg receivable in an opening of a stabilisation device provided in a main panel of each blank, the at least one stabilisation peg being configured to constrain movement of said blanks with respect to the applicator. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one stabilisation peg prevents or inhibits movement of the blanks with respect to the group of articles in a direction parallel with the direction of flow of the blanks through the apparatus and in a lateral direction perpendicular with respect to the direction of flow of the blanks through the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the applicator is mounted to an overhead conveyor, in the form of a wheel, such that the applicator applies the blanks to the groups of articles as it is conveyed downstream by the plurality of article engagement tools. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus comprises an overhead conveyor for conveying the plurality of connected blanks onto the one or more articles. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the reference device comprises an abutment pin extending upwardly from the article engagement tool beyond the upper extremity of the one or more articles. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the article engagement tool comprises a removable head to which the reference device is mounted. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled)