Abstract: Packing apparatus for packing layers of cylindrical articles in a container. The apparatus includes means for accumulating a layer of alternately staggered lines of cylindrical articles arranged end-to-end at a pickup position. The apparatus also includes means for making vacuum contact with each article and transferring the entire layer to the container where it is released and forms a tightly packed flat layer. The packing apparatus also includes means for folding back the top flaps of each empty container as it is conveyed to the loading station.

Abstract: Packing apparatus for packing layers of cylindrical articles in a container. The apparatus includes means for accumulating a layer of alternately staggered lines of cylindrical articles arranged end-to-end at a pickup position. The apparatus also includes means for making vacuum contact with each article and transferring the entire layer to the container where it is released and forms a tightly packed flat layer. The packing apparatus also includes means for folding back the top flaps of each empty container as it is conveyed to the loading station.

Abstract: To uniformly load and orient predetermined charges of shot in shotshells having limited volume, an automatic loading machine meters the charges into the shells in a series of successive increments each sufficient to form only a single layer. A shell-supporting rail of the machine is subdivided into segments which are oscillated by cam and lever means to orient each successive increment of shot into a regular, compact layer.

Abstract: An ammunition loading machine in which a drive chassis intermittently indexes an annular dial to transport empty shell casings to a series of loading stations, and reciprocates ram means to actuate tooling and fixtures for performing successive loading operations on the shells. The dial, ram means, tooling and fixtures are mounted on a base plate assembly to form a die set which is detachable as a unit from the drive chassis, and is easily replaceable by a different die set when ammunition of changed specifications is to be loaded.The drive chassis includes ram drive rods and a dial indexing mechanism which are readily separable from the ram means and dial to facilitate replacement of the die set. The bearings for the dial comprise roller means which also serve to form a separable driving connection with the indexing mechanism to rotate the dial.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding articles in serial order includes a disc and a surrounding rim, whose axes are tilted with respect to one another, and which are rotated concentrically in a common direction. The disc, and preferably also the rim, have upper working surfaces which are non-planar upwardly-convex surfaces of revolution, e.g. segments of cones having upwardly-directed apices. The disc is spaced below the rim to form a reservoir for a bulk supply of articles to be fed, except at one peripheral location where the disc reaches the elevation of the rim, constituting a transfer station. The inclination of the disc surface decreases from the reservoir to the transfer station. Articles placed on the disc are distributed by gravitational action against the inside of the rim, and elevated by the rotation of the disc to the transfer station, where they roll or slide by centrifugal force onto the rim.