Abstract: This relates to a metering device particularly adapted for separating articles being conveyed in end-to-end relation and in side-by-side rows into sets of transversely aligned articles with adjacent sets of articles being displaced in a direction transversely to the direction of movement of the articles so as to provide for the metering or separation of the articles of adjacent sets. To this end there is provided a metering device which includes a pair of endless conveyors having opposed runs and each endless conveyor including first and second sets of article supports or carriers with one set of such article supports or carriers of each conveyor being transversely offset and the article supports or carriers being of the same length in a longitudinal direction as the length of the articles or a unit multiple of such articles. The transverse offsetting of articles of longitudinally adjacent sets serves to automatically transverse the aligned articles of each set.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening collapsed tubular cartons, filling the same with a plurality of product filled beverage cans, or the like, and closing the carton flaps wherein successive cartons, in flattened form, are fed onto a traveling conveyor with end closure flaps extending at opposite sides of the conveyor and double rows of the can units are advanced on infeed conveyor lines traveling along opposite sides of the carton conveyor while the carton carrying conveyor advances the cartons through associated mechanism which co-operates with the conveyor in opening the cartons into tubular form as they are advanced to a filling area or station where the cans are grouped and the required number guided into the opposite open ends of each carton by a series of traveling chains having can engaging lugs thereon which are spaced to properly group the cans and control their movement into the cartons in proper timed relation to the movement of the conveyor which then advances the filled cartons through associated mechanism