Abstract: Articles aligned on a belt conveyor are transferred, without being clamped, to predetermined article delivery positions at the packaging machine. To this end, articles 1 are transferred onto a positioning conveyor 21 having comb-like interteeth clearances. Articles 1 are caused to dwell at a predetermined position on the positioning conveyor 21, and the conveyor 21 is stopped and then lowered to allow the upper surface 61a of holding bars 61 of a slide conveyor 22 to be exposed through the comb-like interteeth clearances, whereupon articles 1 transfer onto the upper surface 61a of the holding bars 61. The slide conveyor 22 is advanced to move the holding bars 61 to a location below pivot shutters 79 of an elevating frame 66 which is on standby at its most elevated position. The elevating frame 66 is then lowered to allow the articles 1 on the holding bars 61 to transfer onto the pivot shutters 79.

Abstract: In a ham loaf slicing machine having a rotary cutter supported for cyclical orbital movement into and out of a slicing station, a ham loaf size sensing mechanism is provided in a collar having an aperture for supporting a ham loaf in position at the entrance to the slicing station to control the speed of ham loaf feed toward the slicing station. In the inner wall of the collar which defines the aperture, an annular groove and a draw-out passage for a flexible strap-like member which leads to a location outside the collar are provided. The strap-like member is disposed in the annular groove, one end of the member being fixed at a suitable location in the groove. The other end of the strap-like member is positioned outside the collar past the draw-out passage and is connected to a sensor.