Abstract: A plurality of flat, similar articles, such as, by way of example, individual slices of sausage which have been severed from an elongate substantially cylindrical sausage-stuffed casing, are randomly deposited onto a conveyor and then advanced in coplanar relationship to an accumulator station where predetermined numbers of articles are divided into individual groups, and each group of articles is advanced onto a carrier member for and which is unique to a particular group of articles, the carrier-member supported groups are advanced one-at-a-time to a stacking station where the articles of each succeeding group are deposited onto the articles of each preceding group until a predetermined number of groups of articles have been vertically stacked, after which the entire stack is released onto a conveyor for further processing.

Abstract: A machine for picking up stacks of sliced food obtained from a slicer and loading the stacks into cavities of a packager which then encloses same. The machine includes a transmission driven in synchronism with the packager that pivots a placer having spring closed doors for stack support from a load position wherein a ram loads each cavity, to an upper pick up position on an inclined, transmission driven, conveyor having suitable stops. The stops retract, and the conveyor pivots downwardly, as the placer moves the stacks to the load position without interference with the stops and the conveyor. Suitable feed conveyors load an escapement for the stacks for the sequential movement of the stacks to the stop positions. A control system is provided to regulate the flow of stacks from the slicer to the loader for continuous loader operation if desired.

Abstract: A plurality of elongate, cylindrical articles are continuously, sequentially advanced toward and selectively introduced into the upper and lower compartments of one or the other of a pair of article-receptive chambers. A first finite number of articles are received and accumulated in the upper compartment of one chamber and then discharged and deposited, en masse, in the lower compartment of this chamber, during which a second finite number of articles are received by the lower chamber and are accumulated with the first finite number of articles deposited therein. All of the articles accumulated in the lower compartment of this chamber are then discharged, en masse, into a suitable receptacle. While the articles are being discharged from this chamber, advancing articles are automatically directed toward and likewise introduced into the upper and thereafter the lower compartments of the other chamber.