Abstract: A cup dispenser for dispensing cups from a stack of nested cups each of which has a rim wherein the stack being dispensed is held up in dispensing position in a dispensing opening, the lowermost cup of the stack being released to drop down and the next cup being held up to hold up the remainder of the stack, first and second reverse stacks being held adjacent the opening, one or the other of these reserve stacks being moved into dispensing position in the dispensing opening in response to depletion of the stack in dispensing position.

Abstract: An automatic supply and loading device for container blanks such as gable top containers including storage magazines for storing therein the blanks in a flat collapsed form at a location away from the main magazines from which the blanks are individually transferred to later processes in a liquid food charging machine. A robot with a pair of grasping claws is provided between the main magazines and the storage magazines so that the robot carries the blanks between the magazines and loads and unloads the blanks in and from the magazines. The main magazines can be inclined at the same angle as the angle of inclination of the robot for securing smooth loading and unloading of the blanks.

Abstract: A lid loading and conveying assembly includes a carousel having an indexing plate with a plurality of pairs of tubes connected therearound for holding a plurality of stacks of lids therein; a rotatable support for rotationally supporting the carousel plate so that the stacks of lids can be sequentially indexed to a removal position; a plurality of spin rods for holding at least one stack of lids removed from the carousel tubes; an optical sensor which senses when the amount of lids on the spin rods is below a predetermined level; and a pusher assembly for conveying a stack of lids from the tubes at the removal position to the spin rods in response to the optical sesnor, the pusher assembly including a constrainment assembly at opposite ends of each stack of lids at the removal position for holding the stack of lids together as a unit in a slightly compressed form during the pushing operation from the carousel tubes to the spin rods, the constrainment assembly including an actuable gate at the lower end of the

Abstract: A carton feeding apparatus delivers a stack of cartons from a supply thereof in a supply pocket located such that the bottom of the stack of cartons carried therein is at a first vertical level relative to a receiving conveyor located such that the bottom of a stack of cartons received thereby is located at a second vertical level higher than the first vertical level. The apparatus comprises outfeed apparatus located for delivering cartons to the conveyor and loader apparatus movable between a first position in registry with the supply pocket and a second position in registry with the outfeed apparatus for transporting a stack of cartons therebetween. A lift apparatus is provided for lifting a stack of cartons from the supply pocket to the loader apparatus. A transfer apparatus is provided for transferring a stack of cartons from the loader apparatus to the outfeed apparatus.

Abstract: A dual bin paper feed tray is removably insertable into the standard height tray-receiving housing opening of an image reproduction machine such as a printer or copier. The tray has adjacent front and rear paper holding bin areas each configured to hold a stack of approximately 250 cut paper sheets, the overall tray thus being adapted to hold the entire contents of a standard one ream package of cut paper sheets. In operation, the loaded tray is inserted, front end first, into the housing opening and the machine's paper feed system operates to sequentially feed paper sheets from the front tray bin into the machine. When the machine's paper sensing system detects that the front bin has been emptied, a drive motor on the rear end of the tray is energized to activate a shift structure which operates to move the rear paper stack into the front tray bin for infeed to the machine.

Abstract: A method of preparing electronic components for insertion into printed circuit boards by means of an automatic insertion machine which has an attached set of component retaining and dispensing magazines, comprising the steps of loading another set of magazines at a position detached from the automatic insertion machine while the machine is in operation, then shutting down the machine and swapping the loaded set of magazines for the set previously attached to the machine, and restarting the machine.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a cup dispenser having an auxiliary cup loading rack for an automatic vending machine. A control circuit enables selective feeding of different drink cup types from said auxiliary loading rack. The disclosed invention is capable of feeding more hot or cold drink cups according to seasonal demands, for example, thereby avoiding lost sales due to a shortage of a more frequently used cup type.

Abstract: A magazine assembly for labels having a main magazine for feeding the labels to a take-out location, a stationary support disposed rearwards thereof for retaining a replaceable supply magazine in alignment with the main magazine, the support having a lateral entry opening for a full supply magazine and an exit opening for an empty supply magazine. Connected to the entry opening is storage for a plurality of full supply magazines, from which the supply magazines may be fed onto the support through the entry opening. Adjacent the exit opening is a cam stop for holding the supply magazine in position for supplying labels to the main magazine.

Abstract: An automatic lid dispensing and applicator arrangement for an automated drinkmaker machine. The lidding arrangement automatically separates lids from a stack of lids and applies the separated lids onto cups. A large supply of lids is maintained in a rotatable lid supply carousel. A lid shuttle is positioned adjacent the bottom of a lid dispenser, and is supported for linear translating and reciprocating movement between retracted and extended positions. The lid shuttle supports a lid engaging member designed to engage a first bottommost lid of the stack of lids and to retain the first bottommost lid in a first intermediate position in the lid shuttle while the lid shuttle is moved in translation to its extended position. The lid shuttle is then moved in translation to its retracted position, during which the first lid is moved within the lid shuttle to a second loaded position therein beneath a lid applicator supported by the lid shuttle.

Abstract: A component insertion machine having apparatus for mounting component magazines and arranged for loading components therefrom into the component insertion machine. Shuttle apparatus transversely positioned on th e mounting apparatus is arranged to receive ones of the component magazines and is slidably operable for laterally displacing one received component magazine with other received component magazines to maintain a continuous supply of components to the component insertion machine.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing device for products is provided, and includes a warehouse with a back guide, a front guide, and an intermediate movable guide so as to define product chutes arranged one behind the other. Each chute is adapted to hold a plurality of products, one stacked upon the other. An inclined ramp is provided at the lower end of the product chutes for receiving the products from the chutes. The movable guide is movable between lowered and raised positions to control which chute is in communication with the ramp so that products from only one chute are in communication with the ramp at a given time. A control element is provided on the ramp for automatically releasing one product at a time from the ramp.

Abstract: An automatic carton feeding device for a liquid filling machine according to the present invention comprises a carton supply basket assembly divided into an upper and lower basket. The upper basket, which follows the lower basket connected to the liquid filling machine, is installed so as to take an upright and a tumbled position. The lower basket is provided with a receiving plate to receive cartons descending to the lower basket in an upright position of the upper basket. The receiving plate is supported so as to make a vertical motion and lateral retraction using an elevating mechanism.

Abstract: A magazine assembly for labels having a main magazine for feeding the labels to a take-out location, a stationary support disposed rearwards thereof for retaining a replaceable supply magazine in alignment with the main magazine, the support having a lateral entry opening for a full supply magazine and an exit opening for an empty supply magazine. Connected to the entry opening is storage for a plurality of full supply magazines, from which the supply magazines may be pushed into the support through the entry opening. Adjacent the exit opening is a lateral stop for holding the supply magazine in position for supplying labels to the main magazine.

Abstract: The cup filling unit includes a guided circulating feed means which carries cup receptacles positioned in rows transverse to the feed direction. The cup receptacles also follow feed paths parallel to the feed direction. An elevator is provided for feeding cup and/or cover stacks in an added cup and/or cover feed device. The carrier of the elevator engages under a cup and/or cover stack and raises it from below axially into a lower opening of a shaft of an intermediate magazine. Each lower opening is associated with an engagable or disengagable supporting base for gripping under or delivering an overlapping cup and/or cover stack. The intermediate magazine is movable and displaceable from its filling position into a discharging position. In the discharging position the lower opening of the intermediate magazine substantially coincides with the upper opening of a cup and/or cover delivery magazine positioned above the cup and/or cover delivery station.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically supplying electrical components from a series of tubular holders held in a cassette to the magazine of an electrical component assembly machine. The apparatus is carried on a channel base movable from a position with the cassette over the workstation to a position with the cassette remote from the workstation. The components are released from the cassette down a chute to the workstation, the chute having a stop member releasable when the channel base is moved to prevent the release of components from the chute. A component presence reader is located in the chute and is disposed at an acute angle to the chute vertical axis to obtain an accurate reading of the presence or absence of a component in the chute.

Abstract: A parts feeder includes a stock unit containing a plurality of magazine units arranged side by side and each storing a stack of magazines accommodating an array of parts, and a supply unit for supporting magazines delivered respectively from the magazine units in the stock unit. Parts can be supplied, one at a time, from any of the magazines in the supply unit. The supply unit is movable independently of the stock unit. When any magazine unit runs short of magazines, such a magazine unit can be supplied with new magazines loaded with parts without shutdown of the parts feeder.

Abstract: A part feeder capable of moving individual parts to a receiver from a storage tube having an internal track therein generally conforming to at least a portion of the vertical cross-section of parts stored within the tube to permit the parts to freely slide along the track within the tube. The part feeder comprises a base; a horizontally movable support member slidably mounted on the base; a tiltable arm member pivotally mounted on the support member; and a receiver on the tiltable arm member. An air cylinder is provided for releasably securing one end of the tube on the arm member against the receiver. Another actuator is provided for tilting the arm member so that the end of the tube adjacent the receiver is sufficiently lower than the remainder of the tube to permit one part to slide out of the tube onto the receiver. The tube is then returned to a horizontal position.

Abstract: Apparatus (24) for feeding electrical connectors from slide packs (SP), to a pick and place robot (2), comprises an elevator (44) which is raised to pick the lowermost pack (SP') from a stack of packs (SP) in a magazine (36). The elevator (44) is then lowered into a connector feed position in which a ram (54) on a flexible chain (52) is run step by step through the pack (SP') on the elevator (44) to place each connector (C) in the pack (SP'), in turn, at a pick-up station (26) to be picked up by the robot (2). When the pack (SP') on the elevator (44) has been emptied of connectors (C), the elevator (44) is raised and the ram (54) is advanced in one stroke beneath pack (SP') on the elevator (44) and a latch (56) on the ram (54) rises to engage the end of the empty pack (SP') nearest to the pick-up station (26). The ram (54) is then retracted, in one stroke, to eject the empty pack (SP') from the apparatus (24).

Abstract: A package for connectors and an apparatus for dispensing them. The package comprises an elongated tape or pair of tapes and a plurality of an elongated connector containing tubes secured to and extending across the tape or tapes. The apparatus comprises a stand having upper and lower support members, a slide extending downwardly from the lower support member to a perch, and a stepping device for advancing successive tubes along the support members to the slide. Connectors are removed from the tubes descend the slide and are picked up from the perch by a robot and installed in a printed circuit board.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing frusto-conical pots, such as nursery or plant pots, including a pair of pivotally connected arm members arranged for movement toward and away from each other on opposite sides of a stack of pots to be dispensed. Each arm member, or each set of arm members, supports a plurality of feed cylinders, each having a spiral groove in its cylindrical surface, adapted to engage opposite sides of the stack of pots and adapted to be rotated in a direction to cause the lowermost pot or pots to separate and drop from the upper pots in the stack. An adjustment mechanism is included for moving the arm members toward and away from each other in order to accommodate stacked pots of different diameters. An overhead conveyor may be provided for feeding stacks of pots to the dispensing position between the arm members.

Abstract: A travelling service device of a yarn processing machine is equipped with a bobbin magazine for receiving a multitude of sticks of conical bobbin tubes which are telescopically nested within one another. The magazine includes a conveyor belt which extends along and can be moved in an endless path and which carries a multitude of bounding elements which bound respective compartments, each for receiving one of the sticks for movement with the belt. At a predetermined location of the endless path, there is provided an arrangement for removing the respective stick from the associated compartment, and for transferring such stick to an arrangement for separating the individual tubes from the stick for subsequent feeding to the respective station of the machine. The compartments may be arranged so that their axes extend normal to the trajectory of movement of the travelling service device, in whic case the removing arrangement includes an arrangement for turning te stick through 90.degree.

Abstract: Electrical connectors are slidably received in side-by-side serial array in elongated, hollow tubular cassettes. The cassettes are shaped to receive the connectors only in a single orientation, and protect terminals which partly extend from the connector housings in an intermediate assembly stage. Cassettes are vertically stacked in a feed system, and when the bottom cassette is emptied of connectors, it is released from the stack and replaced with a full cassette.

Abstract: The invention of the present document comprises apparatus for receiving and automatically feeding dual-in-line package (DIP) transportation and storage tubes (24) to the singulator (76) of an integrated circuit device handler (20) so that devices (22) in the tubes (24) can be introduced at the singulator (76). The tubes (24) are randomly placed in a hopper (66), and conveyed through an aperture (170) formed in a side wall (172) of the hopper (66). An elevator (74) is provided to raise the tubes (24) to a height at which open ends thereof are disposed above the height of the singulator (76). With a tube (24) so raised, a tube inserter (96) pushes the tube (24) into the tube holder (98) of a manipulator (100). The tube holder (98) is, in turn, pivoted to tilt the tube (24) so that devices (22) within the tube (24) are deposited for introduction into the singulator (76 ).

Abstract: A vending machine dispensing cups containing freshly made beverages comprises inter alia a cup dispenser delivering the cups one by one to a filling device. The cup dispenser includes a magazine for several succeeding rows of stacks of cups situated on a bottom. This bottom is shaped with a delivery opening allowing the front stack of cups to fall downwards by gravity upon an advancing in the magazine so as to position on a delivery mechanism present below the delivery opening. At activation this delivery mechanism is adapted to remove the lowermost cup in the stack and to deliver the cup to the filling device. The cup dispenser comprises furthermore a sensor detecting that the uppermost cup in the stack present in the delivery opening is positioned below the bottom of the magazine, the sensor furthermore activating a driving means to advance the row of stacks in the magazine. Furthermore the sensor allows the following stack to fall through the delivery opening.

Abstract: A cup dispenser for housing a plurality of stacks of nested cups in side-by-side relationship and including a dispensing device to sequentially dispense cups from one of the stacks in a dispensing column. A pair of helical feed coils are provided to advance the stacks of cups sequentially to the dispensing column. A support in the form of a pivotable platform is provided below the dispensing column to receive and support the stacks as they enter the dispensing column and drop through a dispensing column opening in order to avoid damage to the outwardly extending lip of the lowermost cup by virtue of the weight of the stack. The support is particularly suitable to catch falling stacks of cups that include packaged materials that are provided with the cup, such as seasonings or condiments carried in the recess at the base of the cups.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a continuous supply of workpieces to a pickup station comprises a frame having a magazine in the top thereof, the workpieces being packaged in open-ended trays stacked in the magazine. A pickup plate assembly pivots downward from a position paralleling the bottom of the magazine, where it picks up a tray, to an inclined delivery position aligned with the inclined surface of a delivery station. Holding means are released so the connectors slide from the open end of the tray until it is empty. Thereafter the pickup plate pivots further downward and the empty tray is ejected.

Abstract: An article infeed unit includes a plurality of carrier pocket devices movable to and away from an article delivery station, and a confronting receiver pocket is mounted at the delivery station. The receiver pocket has upstanding sides, and the sides are partly defined by vertical margins confronting the carrier pocket. On demand, a spreader cam operates to spread the receiver pocket side margins apart from one another, so as to accommodate passage of the articles from the carrier pocket into the receiving pocket. At the bottom of the receiving pocket, a base plate is inserted, and the inserted articles rest upon this base member. After the spreader cam is withdrawn, the receiver pocket sides close around the articles. Thereafter, the base plate is withdrawn, and the received articles to descend through the receiver pocket toward a processing device.

Abstract: Apparatus for counting containers such as empty aluminum cans comprises a loading conveyor for feeding empty containers to a counting unit having a movable conveyor underlying spaced, parallel partitions which provide a plurality of parallel pathways along which the containers are conveyed toward a discharge zone. Upstream from the discharge zone is a metering device which overlies the containers and which precludes more than one container in any row from passing the metering device at any one time. Downstream from the metering device are counters which record the number of containers discharged from the counting unit. Containers discharged from the counting unit are conveyed to an elevated level from which they are discharged to a bin for crushing and baling.

Abstract: A paper tube supply apparatus to an automatic winder. A paper tube releasing apparatus comprises a paper tube releasing section, a paper tube stock section, and a magazine driver section. The magazine driving device of the present invention includes a paper tube detecting mechanism for detecting the presence of absence of a paper tube in a releasing position and a clutch mechanism for allowing a rotational driving of the magazine to supply paper tubes stored in the successive cylinder.

Abstract: A cap dispenser includes a carousel cap magazine holding a number of cap stacks and a cap delivery assembly for dispensing individual caps on demand. A drive assembly actuates the cap delivery assembly to dispense a cap and indexes the magazine when a low supply of caps are within the cap delivery assembly to supply cap stacks thereto.

Abstract: A method and a device for feeding rod-like articles, particularly cigarettes, carried by trays, to the feed hopper of handling machines, particularly cigarette-packing machines. In order to assure a broad time period to replace an emptied tray and to practically avoid the sudden drop of the cigarettes from the tray into the hopper, two trays in discharge position and aligned to each other in the direction of the hopper length, are arranged over the inlet opening of the hopper. The descent of the cigarettes into the hopper is permitted alternately only from one of the trays until it is emptied, while the other previously emptied tray is replaced with a stand-by full tray.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically separating stacks of nested, cup-shaped containers having outwardly projecting lips around the rims thereof so that individual containers are continuously supplied to a point of use. The apparatus includes a separating mechanism for continuously separating the containers in a stack. This separating mechanism utilizes holding shoes for supporting the stack by means of shoes which contact the lip of the lowermost container. The apparatus also includes a conveyor mechanism which advances stacks of containers to a staging station. A gate arrangement is provided at the staging station to create a separation between adjacent stacks of containers and to drop consecutive ones of the stacks into the separating mechanism.

Abstract: Constant supply of electronic components to a processing station is effected by a reservoir and component supply tubes indexed to sequentially unload into the reservoir automatically, as the need arises. Plural component supply tubes are mounted in a cartridge assembly at each station of a multistation processing machine. Upon command of a controller and in response to a low part sensor of a reservoir at each station, the cartridge is indexed to the next tube in order to unload the components of that tube into the reservoir. Each station includes a separate indexing mechanism for each respective cartridge, and a carriage is translated to a position adjacent the indexing mechanism of each station, upon command, in order to effect such indexing.

Abstract: A drinking cup storage and feeding device for an automatic vending machine comprises a rotary type cup storage drum having a plurality of cup storage chambers around its periphery for receiving different kinds of drinking cups stacked in columns. A cup take-out stage has at least two cup take-out mechanisms spaced apart from each other and positioned adjacent to, but outside the rotational movement of the cup storage drum, for supplying specific cups one by one to a vending stage according to a selection signal. A switch detects when a cup take-out stage becomes empty of cups and then rotates the cup storage drum. A cup selecting mechanism detects when a full cup storage chamber storing a certain cup type reaches a position adjacent to the empty cup take-out stage for the same type of cup, during rotation of the cup storage drum, and stops rotation of the drum when the position is reached.

Abstract: A device for removing and relocating pieces of fabric from a stack having a carousel that carries a plurality of stack support plates disposed about the axis of rotation of the carousel.When one supportplate is depleted of its pieces forming a stack, a bar for elevating the supportplate to piece removal position is caused to be lowered to a position which permits the carousel to be rotated and to selectively present a supportplate having a full stack thereon in a location whereat it is elevated to piece removing position and the device resumes its function of separate and sequential removal and relocating of each piece from the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically separating stacks of nested, cup-shaped containers having outwardly projecting lips around their rims so that individual containers are continuously supplied to a point of use. The apparatus includes a separating mechanism for continuously separating the containers in a stack and a feed mechanism for receiving a plurality of stacks of the containers and supplying the same to the separating mechanism as a stack being separated nears depletion.The separating mechanism includes a plurality of vertically extending circumferentially spaced bars forming a channel for retaining a stack being separated. Pairs of oppositely arranged, substantially horizontally extending holding and stripping fingers engage, hold and separate the lowermost container of the stack, and a pair of oppositely arranged holding shoes support the stack when the holding and stripping fingers are disengaged from the stack during each separating cycle.

Abstract: Modular automatic paper handling apparatus wherein a vertically movable paper item tray is incrementally elevatable into a paper feeding position adjacent a feeding device. A cable drive including an electromagnetic impulse clutch and solenoid escapement provide control for elevating the item tray. A pivotally movable reload tray is adapted to be positioned over the main item tray such that finger-like projections integral therewith are interfitted with upstanding projections on the main item tray enabling the main item tray to be raised into a position to automatically unload paper from the reload tray after which the reload tray is automatically snapped out of the way of the main item tray. A cable counter weight permits the main tray to retract downwardly to feeding position without overrunning or bouncing.

Abstract: A coin dispensing apparatus capable of selectively dispensing a coin of a predetermined denomination from among coins of various denominations stored in a coin tube assembly. The coin tube assembly is detachably mounted in a housing. At portion to the bottom of the tube assembly are provided both pay-out slide and coin base, whereby coins in the tube assembly are prevented from dropping out when the tube assembly is detached. Locking parts which are provided at the tube assembly and the housing are engaged with each other, in position. A coin level detector is disposed in the housing so that the detector can be set in position when the tube assembly is attached to the housing. The detector detects when the number of coins is reduced to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A cup delivery and turret indexing arrangement in which a motor receives a signal indicating that a cup is to be delivered to drive its shaft first to actuate a cup drop ring over which one turret column is positioned and to release a cup supply sensing arm which moves to permit a full cycle switch to close. When the last cup at a predetermined column level has been dropped, the arm moves to position a turret drive slide in the path of a crank pin driver by the shaft to rotate the turret to position a fresh column over the cup drop ring.

Abstract: In an apparatus for discharging a number of articles from a plurality of containers one after another by unlocking the doors for the containers by means of series of actuators, a mechanism for automatically resetting the actuators to their original positions in preparation for their next unlocking operation. The actuators are rotatable about their axes and are interlocked with each other with their actuating points being offset by a selected angle from each other, the selected angle being amount obtained by dividing 360.degree. by the number of the containers. The actuators are rotated the selected angle at a time. When the last actuator has unlocked the door for the last container, all the actuators automatically return back to their original angular positions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for loading a stack of containers into a container chute are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support adapted to support a row of stacked containers on their sides. The chute has a container side entrance. A guide is provided to guide the pushed movement of a stack of containers from the support through the container side entrance upwardly into the chute. The stack of containers is permitted to drop after insertion into the chute. The apparatus and method may be adapted to supply containers to a filling machine, such as coffee creamer or condiment filling machines.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a stack of sheets is brought into contact with the clamping surface of a fixed stapler head. After the stack is secured against the clamping surface, a staple is driven therethrough.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for working glass tubes, with several chucks circulating on a common axis and sweeping past several processing stations, there being mounted above each chuck a stepwise rotating magazine storing several glass tubes, each tube resting by its lower end on a non-rotating supporting plate which has a hole for the glass tubes to fall through for engagement by the chuck therebelow, the machine having a switch which causes the magazine to rotate, one step at a time, each step corresponding to the distance between two neighbouring tubes, in order to bring the next glass tube to the hole, and wherein between the hole of the supporting plate and the chuck therebelow there is a mobile arrestor blade which allows the magazine to rotate stepwise without a tube falling through the hole, until the chuck is empty, whereupon the blade can disengage so that it no longer blocks the hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a disposable fluid dispensing tube. The apparatus includes a rotatably mounted turret which is adapted to receive tubes. Tubes mounted in the turret are indexed through stations positioned around the periphery of the turret. At each station an operation is performed on the tube and at the final station a filled and sealed dispenser tube is discharged from the turret.In the practice of the preferred method of the invention, operations performed upon the tube include mounting a nozzle on the end of the tube, securing the nozzle to the tube, sealing the end of the nozzle, filling the tube, positioning a plunger in the other end of the tube and releasably securing the plunger to the tube.

Abstract: An automated system is disclosed for continuously feeding a supply a logs to the log holding magazines of one or more wood grinders on demand. A conveyor system conveys logs to a log holder which receives and forms a series of logs into a shaped charge. The shaped charge is discharged from the log holder to a loading station without change in the shape thereof. Overhead hoist-grapple carriers traveling on a monorail between the loading station and one or more wood grinding machines transfer the shaped charge from the loading station to an unloading station. Each carrier includes a grapple connected to the hoist whose arms, when closed, have an internal configuration conforming to the outer dimensions of the shaped charge. At the loading station, the grapple is lowered to pick up the shaped charge. After pickup of the load, the hoist raises the load and the carrier moves to a "ready" station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically supplying cups to a filling station is disclosed herein. The apparatus consists of means for moving nested cups along a generally horizontal path that has guide means at the end thereof with pusher means engageable with the rim of a leading cup which drives the leading cup from the nested group to the filling station. Gripper means engage the rim of the next succeeding cup for holding the remaining cups while the leading cup is moved from the group of nested cups. The apparatus also incorporates mechanism for automatically releasing the leading cups at a specific location with respect to the filling station so that they drop by gravity to the filling station and also mechanism that automatically moves the gripper means to grip the next succeeding cup for holding the group while another cup is moved from the group path.

Abstract: An improved carousel-type can end infeed unit is provided. Can end stacks are supported within carrier members and are indexed to a position adjacent a transfer station for ejectment into a processing unit intake. The carrier members are attached to upper and lower multi-link roller chains through extension members and axially elongated roller chain link pins. A single roller mounted to the bottom of each carrier member permits the weight of the carrier member and any can end stack to be supported directly by the apparatus frame, while the carrier member can be moved easily about the apparatus by the roller chains.

Abstract: Generally circular articles within a row of similar articles are conveyed and dispensed from the end of the row. When the row of articles is substantially depleted a magazine containing another row of the articles is advanced to bring the additional row of articles in contact with the conveying shaft. A method and apparatus are provided for automatically actuating and advancing the magazine and for returning it to its original position when all articles contained therein have been delivered to the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a machine for applying in series a molded plastic shell-like carrier over a pre-arranged grouping of containers, such as bottles. The machine includes a storage magazine turret supplying the carriers in nested fashion to a hopper device at a feeding station. The magazine turret indexes a magazine to the feeding station and a cam-operated device releases the nested carrier stack in a magazine to the underlying hopper. A carrier feed device continuously separates the lowermost carrier and drops it to an underlying carrier delivery conveyor. Bottles are advanced in parallel rows under the conveyor and past a carrier gate at the end of the carrier conveyor. First star wheel mechanism spaces the bottles on the conveyor to correspond as groups with compartment cavities in the carrier. Bottles moving through the first star wheel pull carriers from the feed gate; whereupon each such carrier falls over a group of bottles.