Abstract: A method and apparatus for nesting a plurality of containers into a stack having a desired quantity of containers are disclosed. The apparatus includes a container guide, a container hold back, a counter and a shuttle. The container guide includes an input end and output end and provides at least one guide surface adapted to direct the plurality of containers from the input end to the output end. The container hold back is proximate the output end and includes a stop surface actuatable between a first hold back position in which the stop surface engages a frontward most container of the plurality of containers such that successive containers nest within the frontward most container and within each other and a second retracted position. The counter is proximate the input end and is configured to count the plurality of containers moving towards the output end prior to the containers nesting with each other.

Abstract: The stick metering device of the present invention is mountable beneath a stick conveyor, and includes an upstream gate and a downstream gate. The downstream gate is generally parallel to and spaced apart a first distance from the upstream gate. The upstream gate cooperates with a first actuator for vertical actuation of the upstream gate between an upstream elevated position and an upstream lowered position. The downstream gate cooperates with a second actuator for vertical actuation of the downstream gate between a downstream elevated position and a downstream lowered position. When in the upstream and downstream elevated positions, respectively, the upstream and downstream gates intersect a stick flow path so as to interrupt a downstream flow of sticks along the stick flow path on the stick conveyor.

Abstract: An in line feed method and apparatus for forming slugs of incoming items, which are standing on edge and aligned front-to-back is disclosed. The process uses a conveyor belt and a vacuum chamber aligned end to end for separating the flow of items and creating slugs. The items introduced to the system are on a conveyor belt. The belt is periodically stopped and the items blocked from being sucked into the vacuum chamber. While the product is blocked from entering the vacuum chamber a moving finger which travels through the chamber is introduced at the mouth of the vacuum chamber and the items are released from the conveyor belt such that they are sucked into the vacuum chamber but are limited by and stack up against the finger. In this manner slugs are formed.