US 12,404,131 B2
Continuous dispensing reel system
Christopher J. Samaras, Tinley Park, IL (US); and Kevin D. Erickson, Glen Ellyn, IL (US)
Assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
Appl. No. 17/778,630
Filed by ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 12, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/055192
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 20, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/118680, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/947,822, filed on Dec. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0028632 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B65H 16/02 (2006.01); B65D 71/50 (2006.01); B65D 85/67 (2006.01); B65H 18/28 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 16/021 (2013.01) [B65D 85/67 (2013.01); B65H 18/28 (2013.01); B65D 71/504 (2013.01); B65D 2519/00631 (2013.01); B65H 2301/412845 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for dispensing a generally continuous string of container carriers, each container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers, the system comprising:
a base;
two rigid sidewalls extending from the base;
an axle extending between the rigid sidewalls; and
at least two reels positioned around the axle, each reel including a string of container carriers that are spliced together to form a generally continuous string of container carriers, wherein each reel is back-wrapped.