Abstract: A stacking station for positioning between the output of machinery for forming folded cartons, and a strapping machine for applying a strap about the stack of the folded cartons to form a bundle. The stacking station includes an upstream conveyor receiving the cartons from the machinery with the upstream conveyor having an input end disposed at substantially the same level as the output of the machinery, and an output end which is vertically adjustable. The station further includes an intermediate conveyor for moving stacks of cartons toward the strapping machine and having a receiving end aligned to receive cartons from the upstream conveyor with the receiving end being disposed at a lower level than the output end of the upstream conveyor. The station also includes a gate associated with the intermediate conveyor and defining with the intermediate conveyor a pocket for forming a stack of the cartons. The gate is positioned to define the downstream end of the pocket.

Abstract: A trailing panel folding system for use in a blank folding machine. The system includes a rotatable shaft mounted below the pass path of the blanks and transverse thereto. A motor is connected to drive this shaft and an arm assembly is mounted on the shaft and includes an arm extending away from the shaft and a folding head for folding a trailing panel of a blank. An encoder is interconnected with the drive means to provide a pulsed output related to the velocity at which the blanks are moving along the path, and a blank sensor provides a trailing edge signal when the trailing edge of the sensed blank leaves the location.