Abstract: A cardboard sheet dispenser is incorporated in a bacon slicing machine line that is operable to group slices in shingled fashion and into segregated batches of predetermined weight. The dispenser directs a cardboard sheet in synchronization with the movement of the batches so that individual batches are placed on a sheet and thereafter transferred to subsequent packaging stations. The dispenser includes a hopper for receiving vertically stacked cardboard sheets and includes a base having a plurality of strippers serving to support the stack of sheets while assuring that only one sheet at a time is removed from the hopper. A pick-off assembly operates to remove the lowermost sheet from the hopper and transfer it to the nip of a roller assembly.

Abstract: A card having a product thereon is fed by a conveyor into a card folding device. This involves the use of an air jet located below the conveyor, which is activated and causes the leading portion of the card as it passes thereover to go into an upright position approximately perpendicular to the conveyor. While in this position, the conveyor causes the card to be fed into fingers located above the conveyor which complete the fold rearwardly. While still under the influence of the fingers, the leading edge, or fold line, of the now folded card is fed into a creaser. At this point, a switch is tripped which raises a stop-bar which stops the card. A reciprocal plunger is now activated and is used to crease the leading edge by exerting downward pressure thereon against the stop-bar. Once creasing is completed, the stop-bar and plunger retract allowing the conveyor to take the card and product to the next packaging station.

Abstract: A bacon slicing machine having a rotating slicing blade and a feed bed adjacent said blade across which it moves forwardly into the path of the blade by a conveyor arrangement; a hold down device laterally disposed above said bed and send product when thereon comprising rotatable grippers biased toward said bed into engagement with the upper surface of the product during operation to provide for a controlled feed of the product adjacent the blade, compensating for the pull of the blade, with the rotation of the gripper sychronized with the feed of the product via the conveyor arrangement.

Abstract: A cardboard sheet dispenser is incorporated in a bacon or pork product slicing machine line that is operable to group slices in shingled fashion into segregated batches of predetermined weight. The dispenser directs a cardboard sheet in synchronized fashion with the movement of the batches so that individual batches are placed on a sheet and thereafter transferred to subsequent packaging stations. The dispenser includes a hopper for receiving vertically stacked cardboard sheets and is provided with a plurality of restrainers that cooperate in supporting the stack of sheets and at the same time fan the sheets to minimize sticking of the sheets one to the other. The base of the hopper includes a plurality of strippers also serving to support the stack of sheets and assures that only one sheet is removed from the base of the hopper at a time.