Abstract: A box-erecting machine characterized by a squaring mechanism for squaring and delivering box blanks to a receiving station, said blanks being characterized by depending leading and trailing minor flaps, a driven reciprocating carriage supported for rectilinear travel including a trailing pusher assembly mounted on the carriage for sequentially engaging each squared box blank and for advancing the blank toward a glue applicator, a major flap folding and compression station, and minor flap folding assembly including pivotal fingers for forwardly infolding the trailing minor flap as it is engaged by the pusher and a rigid tongue mounted in the path of the blank for rearwardly folding the leading minor flap as the blanks are advanced from the box blank receiving station.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating clumps of adherent dried fruits or the like, the apparatus having a pair of planar friction members mounted in downwardly convergent, facing relation for independent elevational movements to receive clumps of fruit therebetween and having a driving mechanism for oscillating the members alternately and oppositely to separate the fruits by rubbing action of the members in engagement with clumps of the fruits received between the members.

Abstract: A stemming machine for separating raisins from mother stems, characterized by a stem conveyor including an open-mesh endless belt having an upper, horizontal run through which raisins separated from mother stems are permitted to drop, a separator station including a shaker frame disposed beneath one end portion of the open-mesh belt for imparting thereto vibratory motion, whereby the raisins are separated from their mother stems at said station and permitted to drop through the open-mesh belt, a raisin conveyor characterized by an endless belt having an upper, horizontal run passing beneath said open-mesh belt at said station for receiving the separated raisins, and a perforated tumbler disposed above the raisin conveyor and inclined downwardly toward the separator station for delivering thereto fractured, raisin-bearing stems.

Abstract: A sealer characterized by a case erecting station at which pre-scored case blanks are erected into open-top cases having a squared configuration, a case sealing station disposed in spaced relation with said case erecting station, an intermittently operable conveyor for serially advancing erected cases from the case erecting station to the case sealing station, pivotal brake shoes for maintaining each of said cases in a squared configuration at the case sealing station, and a pressure applicator including a ram-actuated pressure plate for impacting against the flaps of each of said cases while the cases are maintained in a squared configuration by said shoes.