Abstract: Apparatus for pushing a loaded open-ended carrier sleeve and folding the trailing dust flaps of the sleeve. Flight bars attached to endless chains located below the path of travel of the carrier sleeve initially move the sleeve. Pusher bars or lugs attached to endless chains located above the path of travel of the carrier sleeve engage the trailing panel of the sleeve and accelerate the sleeve away from the flight bars. Fingers attached to the pusher bars contact the trailing dust flaps prior to the pusher bars contacting the trailing panel of the sleeve and fold the trailing dust flaps before the sleeve is accelerated along its path of travel.

Abstract: A machine for feeding a collapsed beverage can carrier sleeve to a flight bar conveyor and introducing the sleeve in fully open condition to the pocket of the conveyor. After leaving the feed rolls the collapsed carrier sleeve is moved through a fixed guide by lugs on a movable chain. The end flaps on the upwardly facing side panel are held in place on the guide while the end flaps on the downwardly facing side panel are moved downwardly by a fixed cam surface. The substantially opened sleeve is then either given a final kick by rotating arms or is propelled by the feed lugs to accelerate it into the pocket while at the same time fully straightening and opening the sleeve. The carton dimension corresponding to the length of the pocket is the same as the length of the pocket, resulting in more pockets per conveyor length and permitting operation at slower conveyor speeds.

Abstract: A machine for feeding beverage cans to open-ended carrier sleeves of varying capacities. When loading relatively small carrier sleeves, inboard conveyors and associated metering screws feed groups of cans to a flight bar conveyor which moves the groups through the open ends of the carrier sleeves. When loading relatively large carrier sleeves, outboard conveyors and associated metering screws are also operated after first replacing the inboard screws with screws able to separate cans into larger groups, the same size as those formed by the outboard screws. This arrangement feeds larger groups of cans which are then fed to the larger carrier sleeves. In one embodiment each conveyor comprises a longer upstream conveyor and a shorter downstream conveyor spaced a short distance therefrom to allow the flight bars to travel through the space between the conveyors when moving from the end of their upward run to the beginning of their horizontal downstream run.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for closing a carrier about a one or more articles. The invention includes one or more fingers which are urged into contact with locking tabs on the carrier to force the locking tabs through an opening on the carrier. The fingers may be activated by a rotating cam operated device or may be electromagnetically activated.