Abstract: Empty boxes for packing articles thereinto, typically fruit, are packed by handpackers, for example, stationed along a plurality of fruit packing lines, each line provided with an empty box accumulation station. As soon as a box is packed and conveyed to a palletizer, an empty box is conveyed to the accumulation station on conveyor belt means from a box buffer station in closest proximity thereto and immediately upstream thereof to stack up against the last, or most upstream of the accumulated boxes, causing each box in each upstream buffer station to be conveyed downstream to thereby maintain each buffer station satisfied, the last box of the most upstream buffer station being supplied from a main box holding station. Box movement is controlled by photocell switches inputting signals to a microprocessor indicating the absence or presence of a box at a predetermined location.