Abstract: A packaging apparatus for feeding, erecting, loading and closing cartons. The packaging apparatus comprises a generally vertically extending carton transfer mechanism for advancing cartons upwardly in step fashion from a carton infeed station adjacent the lower end of the carton transfer mechanism past a carton loading station and to a carton discharge station at the upper end of the carton transfer mechanism. A carton transfer mechanism that includes laterally spaced carton guides that are open at the front and rear sides and transfer slides that are reciprocable along the carton guides. A carton magazine supports a stack of cartons adjacent the open front side of the carton guides and a carton infeed mechanism is mounted for movement in a plane parallel to and between the guides to withdraw cartons from the end of the stack and feed the cartons with open end leading into a position between the guides.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for assembling wrapped stick confections from a multi-lane packaging machine into groups with the stick ends of the wrapped stick confections overlapping. The packaging apparatus comprises endless type first and second conveyors each having product pushers at uniformly spaced locations therealong for advancing stick confections crosswise of their length from a loading station sequentially past a weighing station and an ejecting station to a stacking station. Mechanism is provided at the loading station for feeding wrapped stick confections from the multi-lane wrapping machine into the pockets on first and second conveyors with the stick ends in juxtaposition.

Abstract: A machine for filling containers with a viscous product to a preselected fill level below the top of the container. The filling machine has a downwardly opening nozzle and a valve for controlling the flow of product through the nozzle. An elevator mechanism is arranged to elevate an empty container into telescoping relation with the nozzle and then allow the container to move downwardly as it is filled. A mechanism senses when the container support platform moves downwardly to a position in which the discharge end of the nozzle is adjacent the desired fill level on the container, and an elevator drive mechanism is operated to positively move the container downwardly off the nozzle to a position substantially below the lower end of the nozzle to draw product in the container from the product in the nozzle.