Abstract: A pallet unloading apparatus for removing stacks from a pallet has a conveyor for conveying a pallet in front of a pusher mechanism and a stop member then stops the pallet. The pusher mechanism is activated to push the stacks one at a time off of the pallet. When a first set of stacks has been removed from the pallet the pusher mechanism is then retracted and the apparatus moves the pallet forward to where a second set of stacks is in front of the pusher mechanism and the pallet is then stopped by a second stop member. When the pallet is empty, the second stop member retracts and the empty pallet is passed beyond the pusher mechanism while a loaded pallet moves into position.

Abstract: A tape head apparatus for applying sealing tape to cartons moving thereunder on a conveyor has rollers as part of roller assemblies for rolling the tape under pressure onto the leading face, top surface, and trailing face of the carton. The rollers, assemblies, which are carried on a support frame, and are biased toward their extended position, with the biasing force creating the pressure of the rollers on the tape and the carton. The biasing force is augmented by a pressure enhancer which is actuated while the rollers are applying the tape to the top surface, and the augmented force remains until the tape has been applied to the trailing face of the carton. A cutter cuts the tape prior to its application to the trailing face, leaving a length of unapplied tape sufficient to apply to the trailing face.

Abstract: A magazine carries a plurality of flat, stacked, corrugated fiber-board partition blanks, each being cut and scored for folding into an "H" partition. The flat blanks are successively removed, one at a time, by a suction stripper feed mechanism which transfers them to a conveyor which, after the end panels of each partition are folded 90.degree. by plows, delivers each partition in a longitudinal path to a carrier in a forming station. A vertically moveable forming head folds the blank transversely about opposed fingers and strips the blank from the carrier, downwardly. Then the folded blank passes through opposed converging plates where the panels are urged against each other and opposed reciprocating flap folding dies fold the flaps to acute angles with respect to the panels.

Abstract: Empty cartons are delivered by a high speed carton erecting apparatus to a carton squaring and bottom flap folding station. At this station, the cartons are engaged in succession by continuously moving extensible ram units having flap compression plates and these units complete the bottom flap sealing operation while the empty cartons are being advanced away from the erecting apparatus at a speed consistent with the output of the latter. Upon completion of the flap sealing operation, the ram units move out of the cartons and continue their cycle of operation with additional oncoming cartons from the erecting apparatus.

Abstract: A machine for loading bottles into cases having a bottle conveyor for continuously conveying upstanding bottles through a bottle retriever station, and a bottle grouper for grouping together into a preselected arrangement a plurality of upstanding bottles on the conveyor. A case conveyor is provided for continually conveying open cases through a case loading station. A bottle gripper is also provided for gripping and carrying a grouped plurality of upstanding bottles as they move through the bottle retrieving station off of the bottle conveyor, and for subsequently depositing the group of bottles into an open case as it passes through the case loading station upon the case conveyor. The gripper itself includes a finger suspension member and a plurality of bottle gripping fingers pivotably suspended from the finger suspension member about an open space for mutually convergent and divergent movement towards and away from the open space, respectively.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for erecting cases stored in upright, flattened positions in storage magazines. The machine includes means for extracting end member cases from the magazines, for dropping the extracted cases into drop chutes, for urging the cases in a generally horizontal direction out of the drop chutes, for opening the flattened cases by spreading the case sides apart, for tucking in lower case end flaps, for folding one case bottom panel in under the tucked end flaps, for applying adhesive to the bottom surface of the folded bottom panel, for folding another bottom panel in under the bottom panel having adhesive thereon, and for compressing the two bottom panels together.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for erecting cases stored in upright, flattened positions in storage magazines. The machine includes means for extracting end member cases from the magazines, for dropping the extracted cases into drop chutes, for urging the cases in a generally horizontal direction out of the drop chutes, for opening the flattened cases by spreading the case sides apart, for tucking in lower case end flaps, for folding one case bottom panel in under the tucked end flaps, for applying adhesive to the bottom surface of the folded bottom panel, for folding another bottom panel in under the bottom panel having adhesive thereon, and for compressing the two bottom panels together.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for erecting cases stored in upright, flattened positions in storage magazines. The machine includes means for extracting end member cases from the magazines, for dropping the extracted cases into drop chutes, for urging the cases in a generally horizontal direction out of the drop chutes, for opening the flattened cases by spreading the case sides apart, for tucking in lower case end flaps, for folding one case bottom panel in under the tucked end flaps, for applying adhesive to the bottom surface of the folded bottom panel, for folding another bottom panel in under the bottom panel having adhesive thereon, and for compressing the two bottom panels together.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for erecting cases stored in upright, flattened positions in storage magazines. The machine includes means for extracting end member cases from the magazines, for dropping the extracted cases into drop chutes, for urging the cases in a generally horizontal direction out of the drop chutes, for opening the flattened cases by spreading the case sides apart, for tucking in lower case end flaps, for folding one case bottom panel in under the tucked end flaps, for applying adhesive to the bottom surface of the folded bottom panel, for folding another bottom panel in under the bottom panel having adhesive thereon, and for compressing the two bottom panels together.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for erecting cases stored in upright, flattened positions in storage magazines. The machine includes means for extracting end member cases from the magazines, for dropping the extracted cases into drop chutes, for urging the cases in a generally horizontal direction out of the drop chutes, for opening the flattened cases by spreading the case sides apart, for tucking in lower case end flaps, for folding one case bottom panel in under the tucked end flaps, for applying adhesive to the bottom surface of the folded bottom panel, for folding another bottom panel in under the bottom panel having adhesive thereon, and for compressing the two bottom panels together.

Abstract: A packaging process and machine for performing the process is disclosed by which flat case blanks are stripped from a stack of blanks at a case storage and stripping station and then formed into open cases at a case forming station. The open cases are then transferred from the case forming station to a product stacking and packing station where products are grouped into layers, the layers stacked one upon the other, and the stack packed into the open case. The packed cases are then moved to a case sealing station and there sealed.