MULTIPLE CONTAINER CARRIERS AND MACHINE FOR INSTALLING CARRIERS ON CONTAINERS

摘要

2133827 9321083 PCTABS00027 A carrier (72) formed of sheet material (70) or fiber board for ringing beverage containers (60) having upstanding walls (122) formed to engage a flange or chime (124) on a beverage container (60). The walls (122) extend circumferentially around the container engaging apertures (96) in the carrier (72). The carrier (72) may have concentric strengthening members (126, 128), such as scores or corrugations surrounding the container engaging apertures (96). The carriers (72) may be installed on arrays (62) of beverage containers (60) by automated or manually driven ringing machines (50). These machines (50) index the carriers (72) to locations which correspond to the location of an array (62) of containers (60) received in the machines (50). The machines (50) have mechanisms (54) to utilize preformed webs (70) of joined carriers (72). The ringing machines (50) position the carriers over an array (62) of containers (60) and force the carriers (72) into ringing engagement with the array (62). The carrier (72) may be compatible with modern disposal methods including incineration and biodegradation.