Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for staging a plurality of products into a grouping of a desired number of the products having a given center-to-center spacing therebetween. The staging assembly includes an endless track that indexes in order to feed, without gaps, a desired number of products thereonto, which endless track off-feeds in a generally constant manner in order to provide, in association with the takeaway speed of a receiving conveyor, the desired center-to-center spacing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided in order to handle a plurality of stacks, such as stacks of sliced food products including luncheon meats. Product stacks are stopped during their flow along a conveyor pathway, the stoppage being at a location for generally vertical alignment with an overhead picker head. The picker head grasps the thus positioned stacks and moves same to a location above and in general vertical alignment with a cavity of a packaging container for the stacks of sliced product, at which time the stacks are released, and the product stacks enter the cavities which are subsequently closed to provide finished packaged products.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for neatening stacks of thin products, such as sliced luncheon meat, within a processing and packaging operation. The neatening apparatus receives an uneven stack of foodstuff slices that are generally horizontally oriented, and the apparatus reorients the stack of foodstuff slices by rotating them through a generally vertical orientation and to a generally horizontal outfeed orientation. A tamping assembly is adjacent to the reorienting assembly, and the tamping assembly contacts the peripheral edges of the foodstuff slices in order to tamp and shake same to a neatened condition. A generally horizontally oriented outfeed assembly receives the thus neatened stack at the location of generally horizontal outfeed orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for labelling conveyed articles applies glue to the rear surfaces of labels and applies the glued labels to the articles. The apparatus comprises a device for passing the rear face of the label by a glue applicator and then applying the glued label to an article. In the absence of a label on the device, the pad for carrying labels is withdrawn as it passes the glue applicator. The label transferred to a pad is held on its face by the use of vacuum. When a label maintains vacuum on the pad face, a brake in response to the maintained vacuum is actuated to prevent withdrawal of the pad, as it passes the glue applicator. In the absence of a label, the brake is inoperative to allow the pad to withdraw and avoid application of glue to the pad face.

Abstract: A drum continuously rotating on a vertical axis carries at least two pairs of label transfer members spaced circumferentially around its axis and rotatably connected to the drum on vertical axes. One of the transfer members in each pair is a pick-up member and the other a delivery member, with the pick-up members alternating with the delivery members. The pick-up members are continuously rotated on their axes in one direction while the delivery members are rotated in the opposite direction at the same speed. Each of the transfer members has a label-contact surface provided with a vertical row of air inlets, the contact surface of each pick-up member facing away from the axis of the drum when that member is in pick-up position at the label magazine, at which time suction is applied to the air inlets to withdraw a label from the magazine.