US 12,466,593 B2
Container carrier applicating machine
Jimmy D. Whitten, Westminster, SC (US); Sam Lockaby, Easley, SC (US); Charles Bryan Shiflet, Anderson, SC (US); and Brian Williams, Simpsonville, SC (US)
Assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/639,476.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/460,490, filed on Apr. 19, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0351718 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
Int. Cl. B65B 17/02 (2006.01); B65B 65/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 17/025 (2013.01) [B65B 65/003 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for applying a container carrier to unitize a plurality of containers, the system comprising:
a supply of container carriers, wherein two or more container carriers are connected in a unitized stick and the supply of container carriers comprises a stack of sticks;
an applicating drum configured to accept the supply of container carriers and apply one or more container carriers to a corresponding group of containers; and
an applicator configured to move the one or more container carriers from a first position in loose engagement with the group of containers into a second position in final engagement with the group of containers and thereby form a package of unitized containers.