Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing, in sequence, a finished disc record into an empty sleeve, the record-filled sleeve into an empty jacket, and the filled jacket on a stack of finished products. Two vertically reciprocating releasable holding heads are supported above and in registry with two of three adjacent stacks in a row. A movable carriage located between the heads and the stacks translates along the row in a predetermined operational sequence. A finished disc record is pushed transversely to the stack row into an open, empty sleeve held above a stack of empty sleeves by the sleeve holding head. After release of the filled sleeve by the sleeve holding head, the carriage supports the filled sleeve, transports it transversely, and by a continuing carriage motion, inserts the filled sleeve, still supported by a portion of the carriage, into an empty, open jacket held above a stack of empty jackets by the jacket holding head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing finished disc records in envelopes and stacking the thus-filled envelopes include pushing, by a suitable push pin, a finished record along a predetermined substantially straight path into an empty envelope which is held at the latter path by way of a releasable holding structure capable of being actuated to drop the filled envelope onto a stack of filled envelopes after each envelope receives a finished record. The empty envelopes are derived from a stack of empty envelopes situated beside the stack of filled envelopes. These stacks of empty and filled envelopes are arranged beside each other in a direction which is transverse with respect to the path along which each finished record is pushed.

Abstract: A disc record manufacturing method and apparatus wherein a record pressed at a press station is transported to a trimming station where flash is trimmed from the record with the trimmed record then being transported beyond the trimming station. While the record is maintained in a horizontal attitude during the pressing and trimming operations, when transported beyond the trimming station the record is pushed along guides which guide the record in such a way that it changes from its horizontal attitude to a substantially upright attitude in which the record is permitted to fall downwardly. An envelope is held with an open upper end thereof situated in the path of downward falling movement of the record so as to receive the latter, and then the envelope with the record therein is released to drop to a stacking guide where the envelope with the record therein remains in an upright attitude while a horizontal stack is formed from a series of envelopes with records therein.