Abstract: A conveyor system having a plurality of conveyors of increasing speeds with an angular guide member which directs incoming containers across the conveyors to the last conveyor where they are positioned in aligned and spaced relation for subsequent processing. The system is capable of sorting bottles and cartons from one another and the conveyors are sized to sort a predetermined range of dimensions of cartons and bottles and have their relative speeds governed by the ability of predetermined configurations of containers to be processed without tipping as they transfer from one conveyor to the next.

Abstract: For sealing the open end of a flanged container, a heated reciprocable sealing block having a heat emitting surface is arranged with its path of reciprocatory movement in general alignment with a container to be sealed and a sealing head is mounted on the sealing block by mounting means which is arranged to maintain a part of the sealing head in close heat transferring contact with the heat emitting surface of the sealing block and is also adapted to accommodate moderate misalignment of the sealing block and the container to be sealed. Containers to be sealed are mounted on individual carrier plates which are movable intermittently through an enclosure which may serve to isolate the sealing operation from atmosphere, the containers being sealed by a strip of lid stock which is secured by the sealing block to the flanges of the open ended containers. Following a sealing operation, the lid stock is gripped and severed so that each container is provided with an individual cover.