Abstract: A machine for packing flat articles in a case which includes a case elevator on which a case is supported with an open side of the case sloping and exposed. Flat articles are directed into the case transversely of the open side to form a stack inside the case. A tongue engages the stack as the stack increases in size. The tongue controls means for lowering the case as the articles are projected into the case so that the level of the upper end of the stack remains substantially constant. The tongue is withdrawn when the stack has reached a predetermined size. A hold down and pusher member is advanced into engagement with an upper portion of the stack when the stack has reached the predetermined size to hold the articles of the stack in the case as the tongue is being withdrawn. The case is transferred to a tipover frame which swings the case upwardly against a flap folding belt. As the case is transferred, flaps are closed.

Abstract: A machine for opening and inspecting a folding carton to break improper glue spots and to demonstrate that the carton opens properly. Vacuum cups engage opposite side panels of the carton as the carton advances through an inspection section. The vacuum cups advance with the carton and diverge from the path of the carton to separate the panels. As the carton reaches an inspection station, photocell devices inspect the carton to determine if the carton is properly opened. The carton is advanced to the inspection station by a conveyor which picks up the carton from an accelerator device. The accelerator device in turn picks up the carton from the bottom of a stack and accelerates the carton to conveyor speed. Before the accelerator device initiates advance of the carton in conveyor direction, a carton releasing device engages a side of the carton and advances the carton transversely of the direction of conveyor advance to free the carton from other cartons in the stack.

Abstract: A machine which takes upright stacks of flat articles such as carton blanks or the like from a pallet, straightens each stack, and feeds the articles from the stack in a shingled stream. The machine includes a crane which is programmed to pick up stacks from a plurality of locations on the pallet. Each stack is transferred to a conveyor which first advances the stack to a stack straightening device which tips the stack from upright to horizontal position to separate articles in the stack and straightens and centers the stack. The stack is then restored to upright position on the conveyor and is advanced to elevators which raise the stack against a pick-off belt which withdraws articles from the top of the stack in a stream shingle-fashion. The stream is directed around a drum which inverts the articles in the stream, and the stream is discharged.

Abstract: A machine which takes upright stacks of flat articles such as carton blanks or the like from a pallet, straightens each stack, and feeds the articles from the stack in a shingled stream. The machine includes a crane which is programmed to pick up stacks from a plurality of locations on the pallet. Each stack is transferred to a conveyor which first advances the stack to a stack straightening device which tips the stack from upright to horizontal position to separate articles in the stack and straightens and centers the stack. The stack is then restored to upright position on the conveyor and is advanced to elevators which raise the stack against a pick-off belt which withdraws articles from the top of the stack in a stream shingle-fashion. The stream is directed around a drum which inverts the articles in the stream, and the stream is discharged.

Abstract: A machine that receives four rows of completely separated but closely spaced cartons from a customer printing and cutting press, and spaces each carton laterally and longitudinally from its neighbors for non-interference therewith. The machine aligns each independent stream of cartons with the longitudinal dimension of the overall machine and directs the streams of cartons to a switching device intended to control carton traffic to a primary automated stacking process or to an essentially secondary manual stacking process. The primary automated process passes the streams of cartons through an underlapping process, over an inspection table, through an inverting process, into a rate controlling hopper. From the rate controlling hopper, the cartons of each stream pass over a set of laterally disposed conveyors and into a discrete stack of cartons formed within a vertical hopper system that is the output receiver of this machine.