Technique for nesting articles

A device for nesting a first article and a second article, each having a nesting surface and a number of formations extending outwardly therefrom, said first article having a first near end portion and a first far end portion and said second article having a second near end portion and a second far end portion, comprising:

• an article receiving surface;
• locating means for locating said first article on said article receiving surface at a first ready position;
• delivery means for delivering said first and second articles to said article receiving surface with said second near end portion located at a second ready position adjacent said first near end portion;
• said delivery means being arranged to deliver said second far end portion to within a predetermined distance from said first far end portion;
• engaging means for engaging the near end portion of one of said articles independently of the far end portion thereof;
• transfer means operable with said engaging means for transferring said engaged near end portion relative to the other of said near end portions, thereby to initiate nesting of said engaged near end portion with said other near end portion;
• said transfer means further including rotating means for rotating said engaged near end portion about an axis;
• and
• manipulating means for manipulating at least one of said articles downstream of said first and second near end portions, to allow nesting of said articles to continue beyond said first and second near end portions, said manipulating means further including a biasing arrangement for biasing said second article toward said first article, wherein said biasing arrangement includes a number of belt members, said belt members being arranged to frictionally engage said second article.