A reciprocating platen automatically aligns and seats the carriers. Extending downwardly from the surface of the platen is a pair of spaced, conically shaped projections. As the platen is lowered, the inclined surface of each projection engages and cooperates with the edge of one of the circular finger-grip openings in the upper surface of the carrier. The carrier moves in a plane parallel to the platen surface until the base of each projection is received within a different one of the openings, thereby correcting any misalignment. Further movement of the platen causes the platen surface to exert a downward force on the carrier. This results in the container engaging openings being received over the closures of the respective containers. The platen is provided with recesses, each aligned with a different container engaging opening. The closures are received in the respective recesses to permit the platen to move to an extreme downward position.
A machine for attaching handles to pairs of containers. The machine has a handle reservoir fixture for retaining a stack of handles adjacent to a container flow path. A vertically moveable handle insertion fixture is located above the container flow path for receiving a handle from the stack, delivering the handle to a pair of containers and securing the handle about neck of the containers. A pusher delivers the handle from the stack to the handle insertion fixture.
A packaging device for use in retaining a plurality of containers comprises a longitudinal central section and a plurality of means for gripping containers. Preferably the gripping means comprise pairs of resilient flexible prongs, with these pairs of prongs arranged along opposite sides of the longitudinal central section. A packaging assembly for retaining and distributing containers, which packaging assembly includes the packaging device, is also disclosed.
