System for conveying odd-shaped containers

In a system having a means for receiving a plastic container, wherein said means for receiving is conveyed with the plastic container secured therein through an operation whereby the plastic container having previously been subjected to a hot-filling operation, a capping operation, and a cooling operation that creates a vacuum in the hot-filled and capped plastic container, has a moveable panel in a bottom end portion thereof that is manipulated so as to substantially absorb the vacuum, the manipulating including moving the moveable panel to a position inside the plastic container, the improvement comprising:

• said means for receiving having a base and an inner sidewall defining an internal area that is substantially circular;
• said means for receiving including:
• means for supporting a bottom end portion of the plastic container;
• means for frictionally engaging a bottom portion of the plastic container, said means for frictionally engaging including a plurality of spaced apart projections formed in one piece with the sidewall and extending inwardly from the sidewall substantially toward a central longitudinal axis of said means for receiving;
• and
• means for allowing manipulation of at least a portion of the moveable panel, said means for allowing manipulation including a circular opening in the base, the circular opening having a diameter less than an inner diameter of the sidewall of said means for receiving.