Abstract: A case packing apparatus for assembling packages or trays of fragile objects, such as eggs or fruit, into case filling stacks, and depositing the stacks into cases. Packages or trays are transported by a conveyor to a transfer plate and transferred thereby onto superposed pairs of opposed retractable support ledges on the opposite inner sides of an adjacent vertically movable stacking cabinet. When a set number of layer arrays has been assembled in the cabinet, the support ledges are retracted sequentially, uppermost first, to cumulatively lower the layer arrays into a solid stack form and lastly to lower the solid stack onto a pair of opposed flexible aprons extending horizontally from the sides of the cabinet under the stack and held taut by bowed flat springs each attached at one end to the corresponding cabinet wall below the upper reach of the extended apron and enveloped by the extended outer reaches of the apron.

Abstract: A case packing apparatus for assembling packages or trays of fragile objects, such as eggs or fruit, into layer arrays, assembling the layer arrays into stacks, and depositing the stacks into cases. Packages or trays are transported by a conveyor to a transfer plate on which they are assembled in layer arrays that the transfer plate lifts and deposits sequentially on superposed pairs of opposed retractable support ledges on inner sides of an adjacent stacking cabinet. When a set number of layer arrays has been assembled in the cabinet, the support ledges are retracted sequentially, uppermost first, to cumulatively lower the layer arrays into a solid stack and lower the solid stack onto a pair of flexible aprons extending horizontally from opposite sides of the cabinet and held taut by bowed flat springs each attached at one end to the corresponding cabinet wall below the upper reach of the extended apron and enveloped by the extended outer reaches of the apron.