Packaging system and apparatus

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging system, packaging apparatus and applicator device for packaging one or more articles. The applicator device comprises a plate having at least one receiver for receiving a portion of an article, wherein the receiver comprises an orifice defined in the plate, a bore having an internal wall, and at least one lug, the lug projects radially inward from the internal wall.

1 . An applicator device for application of a blank to a group of articles to form a carrier of the top engaging type, the applicator device comprises a plate having at least one receiver for receiving a portion of an article, wherein the at least one receiver comprises an orifice defined in the plate, a bore having an internal wall, and at least one lug, the lug projects radially inward from the internal wall. 
     
     
         2 . An applicator device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one lug comprises a leading end and trailing end, and wherein the at least one lug is tapered to be narrower at the leading end than the trailing end. 
     
     
         3 . An applicator device according to  claim 2  wherein the at least one lug comprises a rounded leading end. 
     
     
         4 . An applicator device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment guide extending from a lower surface of the plate for aligning the blank with respect the applicator device. 
     
     
         5 . An applicator device according to  claim 4  wherein the alignment guide comprises a post extending from the plate. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging system comprising a packaging apparatus and at least one blank for forming a top engaging carrier for packaging one or more articles, the at least one blank comprising:
 a main panel including at least one retention structure comprising article engaging tabs arranged as annular series about an aperture, at least one of the article engaging tabs is defined at least in part by a cutaway spacing said tab apart from an adjacent tab in the annular series;   
       the packaging apparatus comprising:
 an applicator device for application of the blank to a group of articles to form the carrier, comprises a plate having at least one receiver for receiving a portion of an article, wherein the at least one receiver comprises an orifice defined in the plate, a bore having an internal wall, and at least one lug, the at least one lug projects radially inward from the internal wall and is located about the circumference of the orifice so as to be in vertical registry with the cutaway of the blank. 
 
     
     
         7 . A packaging system according to  claim 6  wherein the cutaway comprises a slot. 
     
     
         8 . A packaging system according to  claim 6  wherein the cutaway comprises a recess. 
     
     
         9 . A packaging system according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one lug comprises a leading end and trailing end, and wherein the at least one lug is tapered to be narrower at the leading end than the trailing end. 
     
     
         10 . A packaging system according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one lug comprises a rounded leading end. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging system according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one lug is shaped to be received within the cutaway. 
     
     
         12 . A packaging system according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one lug is shaped complementary to the cutaway such that the at least one lug is receivable in a respective cutaway when the article engaging tabs fold out of the plane of the main panel. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging system according to  claim 6  wherein the applicator device further comprises an alignment guide extending from a lower surface of the plate for aligning the at least one blank with respect to the applicator device. 
     
     
         14 . A packaging system according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one blank comprises a plurality of frangibly connected blanks for application to a plurality of groups of articles simultaneously. 
     
     
         15 . A packaging system according to  claim 13  wherein the alignment guide comprises a post extending from the plate and arranged to be received in an aperture defined in part by a first blank and in part by a second blank. 
     
     
         16 . A packaging apparatus for packaging articles comprising the applicator device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . An applicator device according to  claim 1  wherein the lugs are integral with the internal wall forming the bore of the receiver. 
     
     
         18 . An applicator device according to  claim 1  wherein the lugs are integral with the plate in which the receivers are provided. 
     
     
         19 . An applicator device according to  claim 4  wherein the alignment guide comprises a plurality of peripheral walls extending from the plate, and wherein the peripheral walls comprise a first and second opposed end walls and first and second opposed sidewalls. 
     
     
         20 . A packaging system according to  claim 13  wherein the alignment guide comprises a plurality of peripheral walls extending from the plate, and wherein the peripheral walls comprise a first and second opposed end walls and first and second opposed sidewalls.