Abstract: A side loading machine is capable of very rapid loading of complements of articles into open side cartons. Carton blanks are unfolded at an unfolding station and advanced to a loading station along a carton path. At the loading station, pusher bars are indexed in closed paths located perpendicular to and on both sides of the carton path. The pusher bars are indexed to push the complements from article waiting stations into the carton. New articles are fed to the article waiting stations between consecutive pusher bars. A split platform cooperates with a pusher bar to guide the articles into each article waiting station. Oscillating fingers and paddles positively control the locations of the carton flaps prior and subsequent to loading the complements into the cartons.