Abstract: An automatic packaging machine is provided which has a chute for directing objects such as cooked french fries into the interior of a rotatable loading drum. The drum is rotated by a motor about a horizontal axis at a speed to cause the french fries to first be carried upwardly and then to fall through a predetermined path within the drum. A staging carousel is provided for carrying a supply of varying sized packaging containers such as cups. The carousel can be rotated to a dispensing position where a single selected size container will be dispensed to an index carousel. The index carousel will move the container to a position within the drum to intercept the falling french fries to fill the container. A detector is provided for sensing when the container has been filled. Once the container is filled it is moved via various transfer mechanisms to a deposit or storage area which can accommodate a plurality of containers and has a mechanism for clearing space to receive additional containers.

Abstract: An overload release clutch having a driving rotor mounted on an input shaft and a driven disk mounted on an output shaft. A shuttle rotor having saw-tooth shaped teeth on its perimeter rides on a splined hub which is an integral part of the driving rotor and engages complementary teeth on the perimeter of the driven disk. Laminated leaf springs are held in position by means of rocker bars which insure that no portion of the torque is transmitted through the leaf springs. In the buckled state, the leaf springs exert a compressive force against the shuttle rotor to maintain it in full mesh with the driven disk during the engagement cycle. Disengagement occurs when a sudden increase in torque in the output shaft causes the driven disk to rotate and force the shuttle rotor axially upward until the buckled leaf springs snap "overcenter" and hold the two toothed members apart.