System and method for packaging oriented containers

A system for packaging oriented containers in a container carrier, the system receiving a plurality of unoriented containers at an inlet, the system comprising:

• a digital reader, the digital reader determining an initial orientation of an unoriented container of the plurality of unoriented containers;
• an orienter wheel connected with respect to the inlet and in communication with the digital reader, the orienter wheel including a rotatable chuck, the rotatable chuck receiving a signal from the digital reader and rotating the unoriented container in a shortest rotational distance from the initial orientation into an oriented position having a desired rotational position;
• and
• a packaging machine for placing a container carrier around a plurality of oriented containers.

A method of packaging a plurality of containers in a container carrier comprising:

• feeding a container of the plurality of containers into an orienter wheel having at least one chuck;
• engaging the container with the chuck;
• sensing an image of an initial position of the container;
• determining a shortest rotational distance from the initial rotational position of the container to an oriented position of the container;
• rotating the container with the chuck in the shortest rotational distance from the initial rotational position of the container to the oriented position of the container;
• fixing the container into the oriented position;
• and
• applying the container carrier over two or more oriented containers.

A method of orienting a container comprising:

• feeding a container into an orienter device;
• fixing the container into a rotatable chuck;
• sensing an initial position of the container from an image of the container;
• determining a shortest rotational distance from the initial position of the container to an oriented position of the container;
• and
• rotating the rotatable chuck and the container clockwise or counterclockwise into the oriented position of the container in the shortest rotational distance.