Patent ID: 7574843
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: B65B,B65D

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing and stacking packaging units with increased stability, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first tray having a bottom with a plurality of openings therein; moving a first plurality of containers corresponding to said first tray openings onto said first tray, which containers each have a diameter greater than the diameter of its corresponding first tray opening, and which containers each have a depression in the bottom thereof; removing a first piece of shrink wrap from a supply of shrink wrap film material; wrapping said first tray and said first plurality of containers thereon in said first piece of shrink wrap, which said first piece of shrink wrap has a plurality of openings therein corresponding to said first tray openings, while aligning said first piece of shrink wrap openings with said first tray openings; shrinking and tightening said first piece of shrink wrap to firmly hold said first tray and said first plurality of containers together to form a first packaging unit; providing a second tray having a bottom with a plurality of openings therein; moving a second plurality of containers corresponding to said second tray openings onto said second tray, which containers each have a diameter greater than the diameter of its corresponding second tray opening, and which containers each have a depression in the bottom thereof; removing a second piece of shrink wrap from a supply of shrink wrap film material; wrapping said second tray and said second plurality of containers thereon in said second piece of shrink wrap, which said second piece of shrink wrap has a plurality of openings therein corresponding to said second tray openings, while aligning said second piece of shrink wrap openings with said second tray openings; shrinking and tightening said second piece of shrink wrap to firmly hold said second tray and said second plurality of containers together to form a second packaging unit; and stacking said second packaging unit on said first packaging unit by inserting at least a top portion of each of said first plurality of containers through a corresponding one of said second piece of shrink wrap openings, and then through a corresponding one of said second tray openings, and then into the depression in a corresponding one of said second plurality of containers, and thus forming a stabilized stack of packaging units.