Patent ID: 7318306

Claim:
An automated method of packaging containers and associated lids together, the method comprising: (a) positioning a moveable gantry in a first orientation in which a first support portion of the moveable gantry is aligned with a container path along which containers are directed to the moveable gantry and a second support portion of the moveable gantry is aligned with a lid path along which lids are directed to the moveable gantry; (b) with the moveable gantry in the first orientation, (i) moving containers along the container path onto the first support portion; (ii) moving lids along the lid path onto the second support portion; (c) positioning the moveable gantry in a second orientation in which the first support portion is aligned with the lid path and the second support portion is aligned with the container path; (d) with the moveable gantry in the second orientation, (i) moving lids along the lid path onto the first support portion; and (ii) moving containers along the container path onto the second support portion.