Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the feeding of cases into an article handling machine from a moving conveyor which feeds a continuous line of cases thereto. The apparatus includes an abutment carried in the path of flow of the cases. The abutment extends above the conveyor for engaging a front end of a first case of said line of cases stopping the forward movement of the cases on the conveyor. A movable post is carried below the front end of the case and is selectively raised for lifting the front end of the case over the abutment so that the case can be indexed forwardly on the conveyor and into the article handling machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles being fed to a case packer in rows on a transporting surface by separating a predetermined number or charge of articles loaded on the case packer from the incoming articles. The apparatus includes a plurality of divider plates which separate the articles into rows and a plurality of fluid operated cylinders which are carried above the rows. The cylinders have pistons extending downwardly therefrom upon which an elongated abutment is carried. These cylinders are selectively activated for raising and lowering the abutments into and out of the path of the incoming articles for stopping the flow of articles to the case packer. This is to enable the articles to be loaded into a case without being adversely affected by the pressure of the incoming articles bearing thereagainst. The cylinders are carried on a plate whose longitudinal position can be adjusted for loading articles of different sizes.

Abstract: A bottle centering and sealing device for use on a bottle filling machine which includes a centering cup having a nonmetallic housing with a conical shaped recess in the bottom thereof. A cylindrical seal is carried adjacent the top of the recess which provides a seal between the top of the bottle and the bottom of a filling tank when the bottle is raised for filling liquid therein. The centering cup is supported on a horizontally extending arm which rides up vertically on a guide rail. The centering cup is loosely carried within the horizontal arm for aiding in aligning the bottle relative to the filling spout and vent tube forming part of the filling mechanism. A bearing is interposed between said arm and said guide rail for producing a retarding force against the raising of said centering cup when a bottle strikes said centering cup off center.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles being fed to a case packer in rows upon a conveyor. The case packer has an article supporting member which is shifted laterally for depositing a predetermined number of articles into the case. The apparatus includes a plurality of vertically extending abutments which are carried below the path of travel of the articles between the conveyor and the case packer. The vertically extending abutments are selectively raised into the path of travel of the articles for preventing the articles from being fed from the conveyor onto the article supporting member when articles are being deposited into the case.

Abstract: A device for aiding in separating a comingled mass of containers being transported on a pair of conveyor belts. The device includes a cam means which is reciprocally moved up and down for raising and lowering the inner edge of the conveyor belts from a horizontal to a tilted position. This vibrates the containers preventing them from becoming wedged against vertical divider plates which are used for separating the containers into rows.

Abstract: This invention relates to guide apparatus for use in article conveying machines such as bottle handling machines wherein bottles are conveyed on a conveyor in a co-mingled mass to guide apparatus for aligning the bottles in parallel rows to be conveyed in rows. The guide apparatus comprises a pair of outside guide rails and at least one intermediate guide rail having an inclined leading edge for positioning tilted bottles to an upright position while being moved by the conveyor, and a wedging device carried by the intermediate guide rail for separating the bottles into parallel aligned rows between the guide rails.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for properly positioning an empty case on an elevator platform of an article loading machine having a conveyor for moving the empty case onto the elevator platform to be raised thereby to a loading position beneath a loading mechanism, a clutch and brake arrangement for intermittently controlling the conveyor, and hydraulic or pneumatic means for raising and lowering the elevator wherein the control apparatus comprises a cam means having a first position abutting a front end of the case when transported onto the elevator platform for physically stopping the case and for sequentially de-actuating the clutch, and actuating the brake for stopping the conveyor and for actuating the hydraulic means for raising the elevator platform. The cam means has a second position below a bottom surface of the case when loaded and lowered to an original position for actuating the means for starting the conveyor while providing a roller surface over which the loaded case is moved.