Notches are formed in the oppositely disposed side closure flaps of a carton to provide clearance for tucking blades to extend into the load storage compartment to tuck the distal panel of each side closure panel in behind its proximal panel.

A wrap-around carrier for transporting a plurality of beverage containers and including a drop-down partition for separating containers is provided with an improved, handle reinforcement section to provide at least double ply thickness in all areas surrounding the handle openings.

An enclosed carrier having spaced handle openings in the top panel. The top panel is formed from two overlapping flaps, each of which has a folded-over edge portion adhered to itself. The folded-over edge portions overlie each other to form the strap portion of the handle extending between the handle openings, with the folds of the edge portions being aligned with the inner edges of the handle openings. In one embodiment the handle strap comprises a four-ply layer and in another embodiment it comprises a three-ply layer. The folded-over edge portions of the top flaps may be weakened at their intersection with the fold lines of end panel flaps to enable the end panel flaps to be readily folded into place.

A bottle carrier having foldably connected bottom and side walls is provided with a composite top wall formed of inner and outer overlapping panels foldably joined respectively to the upper edges of opposite side walls, portions of the overlapping face contacting surfaces of the inner and outer overlapping panels being secured together by glue while other portions of such overlapping surfaces are coated with a bond inhibiting substance such as varnish so as to facilitate delamination of such coated areas thereby to facilitate removal of a tear out section including parts of the composite top wall and upper portions of the side walls so as to facilitate use of the carrier as a container for returnable bottles, and the ends of the carrier being closed by closure structure including end flaps foldably joined to each end of the bottom side and top walls and folded inwardly.

An envelope handling system for removing envelopes from an upper level conveyor, placing them in stacks on a lower level bucket conveyor, removing the stacks from the bucket conveyor and side-loading them into cartons, and sealing the cartons, conveying the cartons to a packing area, and forming the cartons into a horizontal column for placement into shipping containers. The system includes a spider feeder for removing the envelopes from an upper level conveyor and discharing them downwardly in a vertical direction, pivoting bottom fingers for receiving envelopes from the feeder and collecting them into a stack, hold back fingers for intercepting envelopes in a second stack above the bottom fingers, and transfer fingers for compressing a stack collected on the bottom fingers and urging the bottom fingers downwardly to place the stack onto the conveyor. The carton A reciprocating ram urges a stack sidewardly from a bucket, a chute and pivoting gate members direct a stack into a set-up carton and compress the stack as it passes therethrough. Reciprocating tucker bars close upstream end flaps of the carton. A helical conveyor channel receives cartons from a sealing machine, orients the cartons to an upright position and deposits the cartons onto a horizontal surface. A reciprocating plate urges the cartons along a channel and a reciprocating plate urges the cartons sidewardly to form the horizontal column.