Abstract: A carton set-up and loading machine including a magazine for a stack of flattened cartons, suction cups to pull lowermost carton onto one end of a conveyor having spaced perpendicular blades forming compartments to receive a flattened carton and, as traveling around a sprocket, the blades move from diverging to parallel relation to set-up the carton, cam and rotatable members fold side and one end flap at one end closed to receive products from a lateral guideway while conveyor is momentarily stopped. Additional cams and rotatable means fold the side and one end flap at other end of carton closed followed by adhesive being applied to outer end flaps at both ends of carton and pivoted power-operated plates close the same against the previously folded flaps to complete the package. Overall sensing and safety controls insure no jams or unfilled cartons from occurring. Weighing means to prevent short weight also are included.

Abstract: A bag filling and sealing mechanism having vertical tubes over which elongated sleeve-like bags are positioned to receive a stack of similar patty-type products, a composite plunger unit movable into the upper end of a bag containing a guantity of said products, vacuum mechanism operable to apply vacuum to the interior of said bag while said plunger unit is withdrawn from the open upper end of said bag, a plunger coaxial with said plunger unit positioned with the lower end against the top of the stack of products in said bag while vacuum is still applied to contract the upper end of the bag around said plunger, transfer mechanism to move the evacuated bag to clipping mechanism to apply clips to the contracted end of the bag after said plunger has been fully withdrawn, heat-shrinking mechanism extending around said clipped bag, while supported at the upper end, and movable vertically between opposite ends of said bag to shrink it tightly around the contents thereof, and additional transfer mechanism operable t

Abstract: Frozen patties are delivered for wrapping, one at a time at predetermined intervals, by means of a cleated conveyor belt which is fed by means of a trough receptical. A rotating wheel prevents more than one from being delivered at a time. The patties are coupled between a pair of rotating belts, the upper one of which is pivotally mounted relative to the other. As a patty pivots the upper belt, a paper feed and cutting mechanism is energized, and a paper segment is inserted in the path of the patty. Thus, the patty moves past the paper, causing it to adhere on the top and bottom surfaces of the patty. The wrapped patties are then passed through a second belt arrangement identical to the first, and thence to a packing assembly which stacks the wrapped patties in a plunger and cylinder arrangement in response to the pivotal displacement of the upper belt of the second belt assembly.