Patent ID: 7104027

Claim:
A system for packaging products, comprising: a series of carriers, wherein for each carrier (a) the carrier comprises a pair of opposed side plates that are hingedly attached for pivoting toward an open position, wherein the side plates being hingedly attached comprises (1) each of the side plates having a base with projections, (2) the projections of one of the bases being intermeshed with the projections of the other of the bases, and (3) a hinge pin extending through the intermeshed projections, (b) the carrier is adapted for receiving at least one product therewithin while the carrier is in the open position, and (c) the pivoting toward the open position comprises there being relative pivoting between the side plates of the carrier; an inserter unit that receives and moves the carriers in spaced series along a path of travel, and which includes a series of inserter assemblies adapted to engage and urge the products out of the carriers; and a carton transport conveyor moving a series of cartons in timed relationship with the movement of the carriers along their path of travel such that the products are received within the cartons as the products are urged out of the carriers by the inserter assemblies.