Abstract: Empty boxes for packing articles thereinto, typically fruit, are packed by handpackers, for example, stationed along a plurality of fruit packing lines, each line provided with an empty box accumulation station. As soon as a box is packed and conveyed to a palletizer, an empty box is conveyed to the accumulation station on conveyor belt means from a box buffer station in closest proximity thereto and immediately upstream thereof to stack up against the last, or most upstream of the accumulated boxes, causing each box in each upstream buffer station to be conveyed downstream to thereby maintain each buffer station satisfied, the last box of the most upstream buffer station being supplied from a main box holding station. Box movement is controlled by photocell switches inputting signals to a microprocessor indicating the absence or presence of a box at a predetermined location.

Abstract: Rollers for use with singulators for orienting articles, typically fruit, prior to optical sensing, for example, of the fruit's surfaces, wherein fruit having diverse diameters, irregular shapes and bumpy surfaces are properly oriented by contacting a pair of symmetrically disposed truncated conical surfaces sloping uniformly inwardly to a point short of center to form a sheave portion, as well as a deep pocket within each roller and between adjacent rollers, and wherein spacing between rollers remains constant notwithstanding the diverse diameters of the fruit. A drive belt is engageable within the sheave portion of the roller for controlling speed and direction of rotation of the rollers.