Abstract: Articles from various sources are arranged in assorted combinations by feeding the articles in individual feed lines according to source to a rotor with outward opening pockets each capable of retaining one full combination. The feed lines meet the rotor periphery along a series of spaced entry points, and a contoured stationary barrier extending into the pockets of the rotor effectively shortens the pockets to a varying degree which recedes in the direction of rotation of the rotor. The result is that each pocket adds only a preselected number (generally one) of articles as it passes each entry point. Upon passing the last entry point, each pocket contains a full assortment of articles which are subsequently ejected from the pocket as a group.

Abstract: A baby bottle top assembler automatically assembles nipple, collar and hood cap components into a unitary structure. Nipple, collar and hood feeders serially supply the cap components to pickup points. The feeders each include a hopper for holding the cap components, a conveyor for removing the cap components from the hopper and a magazine assembly for serially feeding the cap components to the pickup points adjacent the assembly wheel. Pickup pins pass the pickup points and first engage a nipple, then a collar and finally a hood. The components are snapped together into a unitary structure by a pinch roller. The unitary nipple/collar/hood assembly is removed from the pickup pin by an assembly stripper having fingers which engage under the nipple/collar/hood assembly forcing it off the pickup pin.