Abstract: An apparatus for compacting articles including a compaction chamber adapted to receive articles to be compacted. An article chute is positioned to feed articles into the compaction chamber. A tamper is mounted in the article chute for precompacting articles in the compaction chamber. A compaction platen is mounted for back and forth movement in the compaction chamber. In one embodiment, the force applied by the platen to the articles in the compaction chamber is measured when the platen is at a selected point of movement in the compaction chamber. If the force measured is less than a selected amount, additional articles are added to the compaction chamber. If, on the other hand, the force is at least equal to a selected amount, the articles are ejected from the compaction chamber. An another embodiment, the tamper is movable between an open and a closed position.