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A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in

A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in an upright orientation and the cradle lugs and containers are reoriented to a substantially horizontal or sideways orientation before being pushed into their cartons by an inserter assembly. A transfer block or a support conveyor may be positioned between each of the cradle lugs and an aligned open container to support a container as it moves between a cradle lug and a carton.

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1. A method of moving containers into cartons comprising the steps of: (a) conveying a plurality of cartons in a downstream direction with at least one end of the cartons being open;(b) loading a plurality of containers into respective cradle lugs, aligning the plurality of containers with the open

1. A method of moving containers into cartons comprising the steps of: (a) conveying a plurality of cartons in a downstream direction with at least one end of the cartons being open;(b) loading a plurality of containers into respective cradle lugs, aligning the plurality of containers with the open ends of the cartons, and moving the containers in the downstream direction in synchronization with the cartons, each of the cradle lugs comprising a cradle extending from a base;(c) as the containers are moved in the downstream direction, progressively reorienting the containers from first orientations to second orientations, each container being supported on the base of the respective cradle lug in the first orientation; and(d) progressively urging the containers while in their second orientations away from the base of the respective cradle lugs into the open ends of the cartons as the containers and cartons move in the downstream direction. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises loading the cartons onto a carton flight of a packaging machine and moving the carton flight in the downstream direction. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (b) comprises conveying the cradle lugs in the downstream direction. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (c) comprises progressively pivoting each cradle lug. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (d) comprises engaging each of the containers with a push rod and progressively extending the push rod toward the aligned open end of a carton. 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of supporting the container as it moves from the cradle lug into the carton. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of supporting comprises locating a transfer block between the cradle lug and the open end of the carton. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of supporting comprises locating a support conveyor between the cradle lug and the open end of the carton. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the containers are supported on at least the cradle of the respective cradle lugs in the second orientation. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the progressively reorienting the containers comprises progressively pivoting the respective cradle lugs, and the base of each cradle lug is generally horizontal in the first orientation and is generally vertical in the second orientation. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the progressively urging the containers comprises engaging each container with a respective push rod and progressively extending the push rod relative to the base and the cradle of the respective cradle lug to move the container away from the base. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the containers are in engagement with respective pucks prior to the loading the plurality of containers, and the loading the plurality of containers comprises loading the containers and the respective pucks into the respective cradle lugs so that the base of the respective cradle lug supports the container via the respective puck in the first orientation. 13. A method of moving containers into cartons comprising the steps of: (a) conveying a plurality of cartons in a downstream direction with at least one end of the cartons being open;(b) aligning a plurality of containers with the open ends of the cartons and moving the containers in the downstream direction in synchronization with the cartons;(c) as the containers are moved in the downstream direction, progressively reorienting the containers from first orientations to second orientations; and(d) progressively urging the containers while in their second orientations into the open ends of the cartons as the containers and cartons move in the downstream direction;wherein step (a) comprises loading the cartons onto a carton flight of a packaging machine and moving the carton flight in the downstream direction;wherein step (b) comprises loading each container into a cradle lug aligned with an open end of a carton and conveying the cradle lugs in the downstream direction; andwherein each cradle lug comprises a cradle extending from a base for at least partially supporting a container in the cradle lug as the cradle lug moves from the first orientation to the second orientation, and at least one puck is removably disposed in each cradle lug adjacent the base for engaging the container in the cradle lug as the cradle lug moves from the first orientation to the second orientation. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising pushing the container out of the cradle lug away from the base. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the base comprises a first hole and the puck comprises a second hole, the pushing the container out of the cradle comprises extending a push rod at least partially through the first hole and the second hole to push the container. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the puck is retained in the cradle lug during the pushing the container. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising ejecting the puck from the cradle lug after the pushing the container. 18. A method of loading a carton, the method comprises: obtaining a packaging machine having a transfer flight, a carton flight, a cradle lug, and an articulating mount securing the cradle lug to the transfer flight, the cradle lug comprising a cradle extending from a base;moving the transfer flight and the carton flight synchronously in a downstream direction;loading a container in the cradle lug so that the container is supported on the base of the cradle lug;moving the cradle lug between a substantially upright orientation and a substantially horizontal orientation; andtransferring the container from the cradle lug to the carton by moving the container away from the base of the cradle lug and at least partially along the cradle of the cradle lug. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the loading the container comprises supporting the container on a puck in the cradle lug adjacent the base. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the transferring the container from the cradle lug comprises pushing the container out of the cradle lug and the puck with a push rod. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the container is supported on at least the cradle of the cradle lug in the substantially horizontal orientation. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the base of the cradle lug is substantially horizontal in the substantially upright orientation and is substantially vertical in the substantially horizontal orientation. 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the container is in engagement with a puck prior to the loading the container, and the loading the container comprises transferring the container and the puck into the cradle lug so that the puck engages the base of the cradle lug and the base supports the container via the puck. 24. The method of claim 18, wherein the transferring the container from the cradle lug comprises extending a push rod through the base to push the container out of the cradle lug. 25. A method of loading a carton, the method comprises: obtaining a packaging machine having a transfer flight, a carton flight, a cradle lug, and an articulating mount securing the cradle lug to the transfer flight;moving the transfer flight and the carton flight synchronously in a downstream direction;loading a container in the cradle lug;moving the cradle lug between a substantially upright orientation and a substantially horizontal orientation; andtransferring the container from the cradle lug to the carton;wherein the cradle lug comprises a cradle extending from a base and a puck in the cradle lug adjacent the base, the loading the container comprises supporting the container on the puck;wherein the transferring the container from the cradle lug comprises pushing the container out of the cradle lug with a push rod; andwherein the base comprises a first hole and the puck comprises a second hole, the pushing the container comprises extending the push rod at least partially through the first hole and the second hole to push the container. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the puck is retained in the cradle lug during the pushing the container. 27. The method of claim 19, further comprising ejecting the puck from the cradle lug after the transferring the container to the carton. 28. A method of moving containers into cartons comprising the steps of: conveying a plurality of cartons in a downstream direction with at least one end of the cartons being open;aligning a plurality of containers with the open ends of the cartons and moving the containers in the downstream direction in synchronization with the cartons, the aligning the plurality of containers with the open ends of the cartons comprising loading each container into a cradle lug aligned with the open end of a respective carton of the plurality of cartons, and the moving the containers in the downstream direction comprises conveying the cradle lugs in the downstream direction;as the containers are moved in the downstream direction, progressively reorienting the containers from first orientations to second orientations;progressively urging the containers while in their second orientations into the open ends of the cartons as the containers and cartons move in the downstream direction; andsupporting the container as it moves from the cradle lug into the container comprising locating a support feature between the cradle lug and the open end of the carton. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the support feature comprises a support conveyor. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the support feature comprises a transfer block.