Patent ID: 8424276

Claim:
A system for orienting and preparing labeled product containers for a product multi-pack, comprising; a first conveyance means for conveying the labeled product containers; a feed station coupled to said first conveyance means for controlling the flow of the labeled product containers along first said conveyance means; a web application station for continuously applying a web to the labeled product containers, said web formed from a thin elastic polymer and comprising a plurality of apertures, transverse slits and perforations; a rotation sensor for measuring the rotational position of the labeled product containers using at least one indicator on said labeled product containers to measure said rotational position; a feed sensor for determining the longitudinal position of the labeled product containers; an alignment station for selectively rotating the labeled product containers during continuous flow of the labeled product containers; a cutting station for cutting said web at a predetermined length creating a predetermined set of labeled product containers joined by said web on the labeled product containers; a transfer station for transferring the labeled product containers to a carton; a carton erecting station for assembling said carton; a second conveyance means to convey the cartons from said erecting station to said transfer station; a controller that receives signals from said rotation sensor and said feed sensor for tracking and directing the position of each said labeled product container.