Abstract: A device for erecting a folding carton and for holding the folding carton. The device includes a table formed of an elongated input segment and an elongated output segment. The segments are hinged together tandemwise. An anchor support member supports an input end of the input segment. An output support underlies an output end portion of the output segment. The anchor support member moves between a lowered position in which the segments of the table form a V-shape and a raised position in which the segments of the table are substantially horizontally aligned. Lower end flap of the carton engage the segments when in lowered position to partially fold the lower end flaps. The lower end flaps are further folded when the segments are advanced from the lowered position to the raised position. Side flap folding members are hingedly mounted on opposite sides of the table.

Abstract: A machine for forming a slug of edgewise supported flat articles. The machine includes a table above which the articles of the slug are accumulated. Paired conveyor belt means advance the articles in shingle fashion past an edge of the table. One of the belt means has a portion parallel to and at substantially the level of the table for rapidly advancing lower edges of the articles away from the other of the belt means and onto the table. An upper backstop supports the articles on the table and on said belt portion. The articles are urged toward the backstop means to form the slug. The upper backstop is advanced from said edge of the table as the slug of articles forms on the table. Control of the slug is transferred from the upper backstop to an auxiliary backstop. Upright fingers are advanced into engagement with a last article in the slug so that the slug is held between the fingers and the auxiliary backstop.

Abstract: A machine for assisting in the support of a load. A suction head having a downwardly facing opening supports the load. A conduit is connected to the hollow interior of the suction head and suction is impressed on the conduit so that the load can be held at the opening. A cable supports the suction head. A pressure cylinder is provided with a piston connected to urge the cable upwardly to support the suction head and the load. Fluid under pressure can be supplied to the cylinder at two selected pressures, one selected pressure being sufficient to substantially counterbalance the weight of the load and of the suction head, the other selected pressure being a lesser pressure sufficient to substantially counterbalance the weight of the suction head. A pressure operated switch is connected to be actuated by pressure in the conduit. Operation of the switch impresses the first selected pressure on the cylinder when the opening in the suction head is closed by the load and there is a reduced pressure in the conduit.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping a band around a stack of flat articles. A band guiding assembly and a clamp assembly are at a banding station. An end portion of a strip of banding material is advanced from the band guiding assembly to the clamp assembly, and a clamp mounted on the clamp assembly closes an end portion of the strip of banding material. The clamp assembly is separated from the band guiding assembly to provide an exposed section of the strip of banding material. The stack is advanced against the exposed section of the strip of banding material to draw the banding material around three sides of the stack. The section of the strip of banding material at the stack is cut to provide a second end portion for overlapping the first mentioned end portion. Glue is deposited on one of the end portions in position for overlapping by the other end portion.

Abstract: A machine that receives four rows of completely separated but closely spaced cartons from a customer printing and cutting press, and spaces each carton laterally and longitudinally from its neighbors for non-interference therewith. The machine aligns each independent stream of cartons with the longitudinal dimension of the overall machine and directs the streams of cartons to a switching device intended to control carton traffic to a primary automated stacking process or to an essentially secondary manual stacking process. The primary automated process passes the streams of cartons through an underlapping process, over an inspection table, through an inverting process, into a rate controlling hopper. From the rate controlling hopper, the cartons of each stream pass over a set of laterally disposed conveyors and into a discrete stack of cartons formed within a vertical hopper system that is the output receiver of this machine.

Abstract: A machine for stacking and bundling flat articles. The articles are collected in a stack on an elevator arm. The stack is compressed and advanced into a generally U-shaped basket having parallel spaced sides. The basket can swing about an upright axis and about a horizontal axis. The basket swings about the horizontal axis to a lay-over position in which the sides of the basket are upright. The stack is pushed from the basket when in lay-over position. A tray portion of the basket can be adjusted crosswise of the basket to accommodate stacks of articles of various sizes. The horizontal axis can be advanced along a 45.degree. angle to the horizontal so that the tray position at the lay-over basket position can be at the same height for various positions of the tray member in the basket.

Abstract: A device for delivering pads to a machine for bundling flat articles. The device includes a first pad hopper, a first conveyor which draws pads from the first pad hopper, a second pad hopper receiving pads from the first conveyor, and a second conveyor which withdraws pads from the second pad hopper. The first conveyor is driven when the level of the pads in the second hopper falls below a predetermined level to maintain the level of pads in the second hopper. A switch operator extends into the path of pads being advanced from the second hopper by the second conveyor and actuates a switch to stop the second conveyor when a pad has been advanced to a predetermined pad delivery position. The pad is withdrawn from the pad delivery position when a pad is required by the bundling machine and is delivered to the bundling machine. A frame on which the first conveyor operates can be adjusted to swing a discharge end thereof toward and away from the second hopper to insure proper delivery of pads to the second hopper.