Abstract: A conveying apparatus having a buffering unit extending between a receiving end and output end, including, a base conveyor, a distributing unit adapted to distribute a at least one incoming line of articles received at the receiving end into buffering lanes configured onto the base conveyor, and including a first closed loop track at the receiving end of the base conveyor. The first closed loop track having a distributing lugs, an accumulator unit extending away through the buffering to accumulate positioned on a base conveyor and oriented generally transversally to the first closed loop track, the second closed loop track including a plurality of accumulating lugs, Articles received at the buffering unit are moved along by distributing lugs and dropped into buffering lanes merging into a output lane, and having a second closed loop track on a base conveyor oriented transversally to the first closed loop track having accumulating lugs.

Abstract: A machine for forming a stream of articles into spaced groups of articles, which machine has a working reach and a metering element for being brought into contact with an article passing in a stream, into the working reach, which metering element is driven by a drive means, wherein a speed at which the metering element is driven, is retarded as the metering element enters the working reach without retarding the drive means.

Abstract: A machine for forming a stream of articles (A) into spaced groups of articles, which machine has a working reach and a metering element (10) for being brought into contact with an article (A) passing, in a stream, into the working reach, which metering element (10) is driven by a drive means (18), wherein a speed at which the metering element (10) is driven is retarded as the metering element (10) enters the working reach without retarding the drive means (18).

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles, which apparatus comprises a first packaging mechanism (14) for forming secondary packages, in a sequential manner, around successive groups of articles, transfer means (20) to convey each of the formed secondary packages, each containing a group of articles, to a second packaging mechanism (42), and to manipulate selected ones of those secondary packages, as they are so conveyed, so as to form successive groups of secondary packages, the second packaging mechanism then forming tertiary packages (50) around those groups of secondary packages.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the flow of articles from an infeed stream at an infeed end of a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a plurality of article feed lanes for supplying a row of articles converging at a predetermined position, each feed lane having a regulator to control article flow, one of said regulators providing a reference position by which the relative positions of the articles may be controlled such that as the lanes converge one row of articles is offset from the or each other rows of articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the flow of articles from an infeed stream at an infeed end of a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a plurality of article feed lanes for supplying a row of articles converging at a predetermined position, each feed lane having a regulator to control article flow, one of said regulators providing a reference position by which the relative positions of the articles may be controlled such that as the lanes converge one row of articles is offset from the or each other rows of articles.