Abstract: A drop packer has a conventional shifting grid, with a funnel structure to guide the dropped articles into a packing case provided therebelow. The case is lifted to mate with funnel and has a resiliently biased platform to absorb the impact of the articles dropped into the case. The grid has control arms to lower each article at a controlled rate for at least an initial portion of its descent.

Abstract: Apparatus for horizontally and vertically transporting articles, such as eggs, without dropping thereof, in which an intermittently, substantially horizontally movable conveyor is provided with a plurality of holders, each designed to hold a single article. Each holder comprises at least two rotary portions, movable between a closed position in which it supports an article and an open position in which it releases an article. The conveyor transports the articles, while the holders are in closed positions, into a transfer station which is provided with a plurality grippers, such as suction cups, one for each associated holder in the transfer station. Each gripper grips an article in an associated holder, while the holder is in a closed position, and after the holder is opened, the gripper transports the article vertically downwardly, through the opened rotary portions of the holder, to minimize dropping thereof, after which the article is released.

Abstract: A universal type packing or grid head for use in article packing apparatus wherein a plurality of articles are fed to the head for assembly into a group of articles for filling a case. The grouped articles are ultimately deposited into a packing case for transport. The packing head is readily adjustable as to size and quantity of articles formed into a group.

Abstract: A case packing system, including apparatus and method, wherein cans or like products are introduced to an accumulator in a generally random single file, collected in multiple rows or lanes, and loaded into cartons or cases. Limit means associated with the accumulator define removable abutments against which the leading cans, in the several rows, engage. Switches are provided for sensing the presence of the completed group of cans defined by the multiple rows and, in response thereto, effecting a retraction of the limit means. The accumulator is followed by an infeed belt which introduces the grouped multiple rows of cans into a packing station and onto a pair of support panels mounted for vertical pivoting for a downward discharge of the cans into a subjacent case. Empty cases are conveyed sequentially into the packing station in underlying relation to the panel supported cans.

Abstract: Method of discharging objects from holders transporting the objects at a first velocity from a first station where the holders successively take up the objects to a second station at which the objects are to be placed, wherein as the objects approach the second station, they are given a second velocity having a direction the angle of which relative to the first velocity gradually increases within a predetermined angular range thereby to decrease the first velocity, and when the first velocity has been substantially offset by the second velocity, the objects are successively discharged from the holders so as to be placed at the second station. A holder suitable for use in the method is also provided.

Abstract: A plurality of grids are mounted individually on spokes of a wheel so that each grid moves through an article infeed station where groups of articles are fed into the grids without interrupting their forward speed. The orbit of the grids is such that each grid also moves through a discharge station where the article groups are dropped into packing cases again without interrupting the motion of the articles in the direction of a packing case conveyor.

Abstract: An implement to be used by a fruit picker person to gently deposit the fruits in a box, directly from climbed positions near the box, irrespective of the level of fruits in the box, with easy and readily removal from among the fruits when the box has been filled, and with readily disconnectable components for convenient assembly and dessassembly in the orchard. This fruit picking implement comprises a support fitting onto a conventional orchard box, a frame removably mountable on the support, a hanger bracket removably connecting to the frame, fruit braking shelves pivotally attached to the hanger bracket, and a flexible tube having one end hooking to the belt of one fruit picker person and having another end entering into a whirling eductor overlying the uppermost shelf to gently drop fruits successively onto that uppermost shelf and dropping of the fruits serially through the vertically spaced apart shelves.

Abstract: A finger assembly includes a holder supported in depending position on a horizontal rail in the case loader. Fingers extend downwardly and outwardly from the holder and are resiliently clamped therein by a retaining member. An elongated fastener extends upwardly through the retaining member and has its upper end secured in the holder. The retaining member is spring biased upwardly against inturned fulcrum defining portions of each finger and said retaining member cooperates with a downwardly open cavity in the holder to define a plurality of finger sockets therebetween. The fingers are held for limited movement toward and away from centered positions associated with pockets defined in the case loader for the articles being loaded, and each finger is also adapted for limited lateral movement in its associated socket, at least when the finger is not in its centered position in a pocket.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening the filling openings of bags connected together in the manner of a band. The apparatus includes two conveyor belts between which the opening edges of the bags are guided and each of which is guided around at least one compensating roller displaceable in the direction of movement of the bags. A spreader arrangement engages between the opening edges of the bags and comprises two flexible elements each fixedly mounted at one end and displaceable at the other end, and which together with the associated conveyor belts grip the opening edges of the respective bag and are displaceable in an outward direction by adjuster means for the purpose of forming a filling opening. A rotary member is arranged above at least one of the opening edges of the filling opening substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the bag and is driven in opposition to the filling direction of the filling material.

Abstract: A guide mechanism for a case packer is characterized by a mounting member, a plurality of guide member fingers, and a plurality of expansion springs, each spring connecting a different finger to the mounting member and also biasing the bottom of the finger towards a converging position with the other finger bottoms. The springs act substantially vertically, enabling substantially unlimited universal pivoting of the fingers relative to the mounting member and thereby reducing the likelihood of finger breakage in the event of a jam.

Abstract: A case packer has a grid with fixed lane guides to receive columns of articles in an array which can be isolated from articles on the infeed conveyor by upright posts on a shifting plate. The articles to be dropped are supported on a shifting grid which moves with the shifting plate up to a predetermined point where the plate and posts stop and the grid moves further and in a downstream direction to separate the articles being dropped from those held back by the posts.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously transferring a plurality of stacks of sliced or bulk food product from a holding station, such as the output of a slicing and stacking machine, to a receiving station, or the like, for loading and packaging of the food product. The device includes a rapidly and continuously operating accumulating conveyor for transferring a plurality of stacks from the holding station to a transfer station, and a shuttle-like, product-engaging member mounted proximate the transfer station for rapid, reciprocating movement transverse to the conveyor for transferring the plurality of stacks from the transfer station to a loading station. The product-engaging member has a plurality of concave portions, each formed to receive one stack of the plurality of stacks of product.

Abstract: A case packer for packing bottles from an upright position to a necks down or upside down position in a case. A grid is provided for marshalling upright bottles and a conveyor is provided for bringing a case, to be packed, under the grid. A rotator, located between the grid and case, is adapted to receive a pattern of bottles from the grid, rotate the bottles to invert them, and then deposit the bottles into the case. Gripping devices are located above the grid to grasp the tops of the bottles on the grid and push them into the rotator. After a first pattern of bottles has been inserted into the rotator and held there by a frictional arresting device, the second set of bottles forces the first set through the rotator and into the case.

Abstract: The shifting grid frame assembly of a drop packer has removable subassemblies so that the grid frame need not be removed for replacement to setup the packer for a different size product. The funnel portion of the grid is itself removable from the grid assembly, as are the riding strips along which the product moves into the grid.

Abstract: Set-up open top bottle carriers having apertured bottom walls are continuously supplied in abutting relationship by conveyor means to a loading station while bottles are moved continuously along a dead plate having its outfeed end at said loading station, and a plurality of positioning pins mounted on endless means which is movable in synchronism with movement of the bottles along the dead plate are disposed below the outfeed end of the dead plate and arranged so that the positioning pins enter apertures in the bottoms of the cartons thereby to insure that bottles fed off of the outfeed ends of the dead plate are dropped into the carton therebelow, the bottles being guided during their downward fall into the carton by parts of the pusher means which moves the bottles along the dead plate and downward movement of the bottles being arrested by a cushioned stop due to engagement with the positioning pins which are yieldably mounted.

Abstract: An egg transfer apparatus as disclosed which is adapted to receive eggs from a position thereabove and transport the eggs gently to a location therebelow which includes a carriage plate which is generally vertically movable with respect to a housing. A slide retaining device fixedly secured to the carriage plate defines a slide channel which is adapted to receive therein a slide member which is approximately horizontally movable with respect to the vertically movable carriage plate. A cam arm is rotatably mounted in the housing and a cam roller is secured thereto. A cam follower is fixedly secured with respect to the slide member in a position adjacent the cam roller. Rotation of the cam arm causes engagement of the cam roller and cam follower causing movement of the slide member within the slide channel. With this configuration the vertical movement of the carriage with respect to the housing will cause cyclical horizontal movement of the slide member.

Abstract: A carton filling system is provided for continuously and substantially uniformly filling a succession of cartons with a product for shipping. The system is uniquely adapted for handling irregular-shaped products, such as frozen parfried potato strips, for filling the cartons to have a maximum bulk density, and thereby maximize the quantity of product which can be contained in the cartons. The system is embodied in apparatus and method for orienting the product prior to and during filling of the cartons.

Abstract: Case packer apparatus having an upper grid supplied with streams of rows of abutted articles for receipt for case packing action, a lower grid of corresponding size and article grouping as the upper grid is positioned directly thereunder and is operatively connected thereto by position control means, such control means secure the lower grid to the upper grid for vertical movement to and away from a position adjacent the upper grid, drop fingers depend from the lower grid and are engageable with a case on a case supply conveyor having a horizontal operative course positioned directly below the vertically aligned grids.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for labelling containers such as bottles and for placing groups of the containers in a crate. A labelling station includes an arm having at least two label-engaging portions separated by resilient neck portions which permit flexing as labels are placed on the container by the label-engaging portions. Also a bottle delivery system is provided having guide elements for grouping in fours. Each group guides a bottle into a pocket of a crate.

Abstract: A capping machine for application of sealing caps which cover the bungs of a variety of liquid containers which comprises a cap holder with a vertical cylindrical shape in which a plurality of sealing caps is piled up with the upward open ends to form a cylinder, a horizontal circular band made of a resilient material which is arranged at the bottom of the cap holder, making the internal surface thereof identical to that of the cap holder, a pneumatic system which intermittently inflates the internal surface of the resilient circular band toward the center thereof, a sucking member which takes down and holds a sealing cap located at the extreme bottom of the sealing cap pile in the cap holder during the period in which the resilient band holds a sealing cap second to the bottom, and a means which changes the direction of and carries sealing cap held by the sucking member and applies the same to a bung of a liquid container.

Abstract: A holder assembly is described for releasably receiving and supporting successive groups of containers in a case packing machine. The machine is operable to move successive groups vertically downward from a first station to the holder assembly at a second station. Subsequently the containers are forced downwardly again from the holder assembly to a case packing station below. The holder assembly functions to group received containers into defined rectangular clusters. The holder assembly also permits vertical movement of the containers while holding them in the rectangular array. Rotary mechanisms enable selective inversion of the holders and containers supported within.

Abstract: An apparatus receives empty bins and loose articles of random size and shape, such as apples, to be stored within the bins at a fill station. The articles are delivered to an inclined conveyor which has a lower end adjacent to a horizontal conveyor with a stop roller being positioned between the conveyors. When the articles have collected on the inclined conveyor a predetermined distance up the incline, a drive is actuated which simultaneously moves the inclined conveyor upwardly and moves the horizontal conveyor away from the inclined conveyor while rotating the stop roller to permit the articles to move from the inclined conveyor to the horizontal conveyor. This conveyor motion causes the articles to gently cascade down the incline in spread out fashion so that they are transported toward the end of the horizontal conveyor remote from the inclined conveyor and across the entire breadth thereof.

Abstract: Finger mounting apparatus for a case loading grid is disclosed. Pyramidal shaped blocks are fixed to conventional bars in a packing grid, and a plate is selectively fixed to the bottom face of a block. The plate has an opening to hold a finger. The same block can mount two or more types of plate to carry two or more different types of finger. A single plate can be removed from a grid without removing the entire grid, so the grid can be serviced without removing the entire grid.

Abstract: A case packing machine is described for bottles having enlarged neck flanges. The machine first arranges bottles received from a conveyor into a group on an escapement mechanism. The grouped bottles are suspended from their enlarged neck flanges by an escapement mechanism at a first station. The group is released as a ram engages the bottle finishes and shifts them downwardly to a second station. An actuator on the ram functions to operate the escapement mechanism and a bottle stop mechanism is also operated directly from the ram to halt further progress of bottles toward the escapement mechanism during release and movement of the previous group of bottles to the second station. Bottles may be received by an invertible holder at the second station. The holder forms the bottles into a prescribed rectangular array and supports the bottles until a subsequent group is received. The subsequent received group engages and moves the first group downwardly into a case waiting at a packing station below.

Abstract: A receiving device for bruisable objects having obliquely and downwardly extending receiving members, which can yield downwardly and outwardly and a pivot mechanism for pivoting at least one receiving member downwardly and outwardly, a restriction member being provided for retarding or hampering the movement of the receiving member and for moving in unison with the receiving member when a pivot mechanism pivots the receiving and restriction member in unison.

Abstract: A machine for placing groups of containers, preferably bottles, into cases. Successive groups of bottles are moved horizontally to a first station where they are releasably suspended on escapement bars. The bottles are suspended at enlarged neck flanges adjacent their finishes. A cam mechanism moves the bars apart to release bottles allowing them to be moved vertically downward to a second station. The bottles are releasably received within one of two horizontally movable chutes at the second station. The chutes are also pivotable relative to one another so that the bottles may be inverted piror to being loaded into a case at a case packing station below. The two chutes are reciprocated horizontally relative to the first station so one chute may be unloaded into an awaiting case while the remaining chute is being loaded through operation of the escapement mechanism. Each chute may be inverted as the chutes are horizontally reciprocated.

Abstract: This invention essentially relates to a grid for guiding bottles advancing towards compartments of a packing case. The grid has vertically fastened thereto supports each including a sleeve containing axial-push means together with a rod cooperating therewith to resiliently maintain a group of short fingers while imparting to their free ends a spaced apart position under the action of the axial push.

Abstract: A grid set for use on an article loading machine for guiding cartons of articles such as drinks into a case carried therebelow. A plurality of guide arms are pivotally carried in a rectangular frame directly below a drop assembly for guiding the cartons of drinks into a cardboard case ensuring that the corners of the case are extended fully. Cam means cooperate with the guide arms for holding the cartons of drinks as the entire frame is lowered to the case for gently depositing the cartons of drinks into the case.

Abstract: An article retarding device for use with a grid set of a case loading machine for breaking the fall of articles as they are dropped through the grid set into a case. The grid set includes a trip-bar assembly which is shifted to drop the articles. Positioned below the trip-bar assembly are a plurality of pivotally supported downwardly extending fingers carried in the form of a matrix which guide the articles into the case as they are being loaded. A camming mechanism selectively forces the fingers of respective passages to the center of the passages for breaking the fall of articles into the case. Means is provided for retracting the camming mechanism to a second position so that the articles can be gently loaded into the case.

Abstract: A finger assembly includes a finger holder supported in depending position on a horizontal rail for adjustable positioning therealong. Flexible fingers received in associated slots in the holder extend downwardly and laterally outwardly from the holder and are clamped thereto by a retaining member, positioned below the holder, and a single clamping screw, extending upwardly through the retaining member and engaged with and secured to the holder. Different size retaining members may be used to vary the lateral pitch of the fingers. A single finger may be removed from the holder for repair or replacement by loosening the clamping screw which is accessible from the position below the holder.

Abstract: A finger assembly includes a finger holder supported in depending position on a horizontal rail for adjustable positioning therealong. Flexible fingers extend downwardly and outwardly from the holder and are clamped thereto by a retaining member, received within a downwardly opening cavity in the holder, and a single clamping screw, secured to and extending upwardly through the retaining member and engaging the holder. The fingers are releasably retained in depending position on the retaining member so that the fingers, the retaining member, and the clamping screw may be inserted into and removed from the holder as a unit. The clamping screw is accessible from and a position below the assembly.

Abstract: Orchard fruit handling apparatus for conveying and delivering harvested fruit into a plurality of storage bins comprising a first conveyor for adjustable attachment to a conventional farm tractor for receiving and transporting fruit received thereon in a generally linear direction rearwardly of the tractor, and trailer means for attachment to the tractor containing a second conveyor for receiving harvested fruit from the first conveyor and selectively directing the fruit into a plurality of storage bins carried on the trailer. A plurality of deflecting blades or bars are selectively positionable across the second conveyor to selectively intercept and deflect the fruit into corresponding bin filler mechanisms located along the side of the second conveyor and above corresponding collection bins.

Abstract: An apparatus for gently transferring delicate produce from a supply conveyor into a dry storage bin. The discharge head of the apparatus has a reversible delivery board which directs and uniformly stacks the produce within the bin without bruising the produce. The transfer apparatus utilizes a series of opposed brushes on a parallel conveyor arrangement to gently support and transfer the produce to the bin. The discharge head and the bin move relative to each other in both the horizontal and vertical planes to provide uniform layers of produce and to adjust for the increasing layers in the bin.

Abstract: A case packing apparatus for assembling packages or trays of fragile objects, such as eggs or fruit, into case filling stacks, and depositing the stacks into cases. Packages or trays are transported by a conveyor to a transfer plate and transferred thereby onto superposed pairs of opposed retractable support ledges on the opposite inner sides of an adjacent vertically movable stacking cabinet. When a set number of layer arrays has been assembled in the cabinet, the support ledges are retracted sequentially, uppermost first, to cumulatively lower the layer arrays into a solid stack form and lastly to lower the solid stack onto a pair of opposed flexible aprons extending horizontally from the sides of the cabinet under the stack and held taut by bowed flat springs each attached at one end to the corresponding cabinet wall below the upper reach of the extended apron and enveloped by the extended outer reaches of the apron.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping elongated articles of the type in which the machine advances a strip of wrapping material past a loading station, folds the strip into a tube around the articles and longitudinally seals the strip as it is advanced past a longitudinal sealing station, and thereafter transversely seals the tube between the articles and severs the tube to form separate packages.

Abstract: A case packer head including a grid frame for receiving a plurality of rows of abutted articles therein and a skid blade frame carried by the grid frame for article support and release action are provided, together with a movable support means for the downstream end of the grid frame, and a control member operably engages this support means to move the downstream end of the grid frame vertically so that the grid frame can be inclined downwardly for article loading action and be positioned horizontally for article drop.

Abstract: In a case packer, wide mouth bottles are conveyed to a platform where they are arranged in alignment with the cells in the case and thereafter held in position by suction cups. The platform is rotated to suspend the bottles, mouth down, over the case. The bottles are gravity fed into cells in the case formed by upstanding partitions. A guide mechanism is interposed between the platform and the case to correct misalignment of the partitions and to guide the bottles into the cells. The guide mechanism includes, for each cell, a pair of rigid guide members aligned with opposing corners of the cell. The guide members are pivotally mounted to a grid, in opposing spaced relationship, such that the members are movable between a closed, closely opposed and preferably mutually engaging position, inclined towards one another, and an opened mutually separated, generally vertical position. Each member includes first and second sections.

Abstract: A packer grid block assembly utilizing detachably securable fingers for guiding articles into an orderly array to facilitate packing of the articles into a predefined receiving location positioned therebelow including a plurality of equally spaced parallel grid plates having mounted thereon a plurality of generally triangular support blocks which each present outwardly facing block surfaces to which a plurality of guiding fingers are detachably securable, each block surface including secured thereto a cover plate which is maintained in a spaced relationship with respect to the block surface by a plurality of spacers which serve to define a separation space between the cover plate and the support block, the finger members serving to guide articles passing through the grid may be detachably securable in a location between the cover plates and the block members by detachably securing themselves around the spacers, the elongated finger members being of a resilient material and defining a longitudinal slot therein

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: The device for feeding candies to a wrapping machine comprises a first disc on which the candies are discharged in a disorderly manner, which first disc is provided with separating brushes, for causing the candies to be housed in pockets provided thereon. The said pockets are arranged on the discs along arc lengths, the diameter of the said arc lengths being equal to the diameter of the crown of receiving pockets arranged on a second disc, or feeding disc. The candies are transferred from the pockets in the first disc to the pockets of the crown of the second disc by means of an intermediate rotary transfer device, which is provided with grippers each of which takes from the first disc a group of candies arranged along an arc length and deposits said group on a corresponding arc length of the crown of receiving pockets in the second disc.

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 finger assembly for use in a packer grid wherein the finger assembly comprises a body having an upper frustoconical section having at least one flat thereon. At least one flexible finger extends downwardly and outwardly from the body. The finger includes an upper portion which is positioned against the flat. The upper portion also includes at least one ear. A cap is attached to the upper portion of the body and holds the upper portion of the finger against the flat. The cap also includes a circumferential groove in its interior surface into which the ear extends to prevent withdrawal of the finger when the cap is tightened.

Abstract: Apples are packaged by introducing them in a water bath in which they float upwardly into an open bottom porous cage. After the cage is filled with apples it is moved laterally in the water bath to an apple loading zone for packaging in a wooden bin. The wooden bin is initially placed at such zone below the apple filled cage. The bin and cage are then raised out of the water to an elevation between a bin feed conveyor and a bin discharge conveyor. When and as the bin is being raised upwardly through the water the apples from the cage fall into the bin and once such apple filled bin reaches the above mentioned elevation an empty bin on the feed conveyor is moved to dislodge the apple-filled bin onto the discharge conveyor with the empty bin then remaining on the elevator and being subsequently moved downwardly through the water to a position below expectant arrival of another apple-filled cage.

Abstract: A device for transporting sliced comestible product from a slicer and loading the product in packages includes a belt drive system, with a plurality of transfer carriages supported thereon, extending between the slicer and the loader. Each transfer carriage includes a grid of horizontal, parallel tines to support the product. The loader includes a loader carriage slidably depending from a track, and a plurality of hooked tines pivotably secured to the loading carriage. The hooked tines are adapted to rotate down between the transfer tines to remove the product therefrom as the loader carriage translates along the track toward the package to be filled. The loader carriage stops above the package, where side guides grasp the sides of the product as the loader tines swing away. A loader plunger then descends to urge the product into the package. The transfer carriages are slidably supported on the belt drive system, so that one or more transfer carriages may be temporarily stopped on the belts.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding and cushioning a plurality of articles deposited into a container positioned beneath it. It is comprised of a rigid framework of spaced, elongated members having guides positioned at intervals along the members. The guides are tapered upward and extend outward on either side of the elongated members to define passages through which the articles pass, which passages are bounded by members on two sides and by the extended guide portions on the other sides. Flexible fingers extending downwardly and toward the center of each passage have mounting portions fastened to the elongated members by the tapered guides; preferably two fingers extend into different passages from a common mounting portion. The tapered guides align each article with a passage where the flexible fingers cushion and precisely position the article as it moves into the container. Each mounting portion can be resiliently fastened in place to provide adjustability of the cushioning effect by adjusting the resiliency.

Abstract: A universal head for a drop type case packer, for enabling the packer to handle a range of article sizes and arrays. Lane dividers mounted from the head define parallel lanes, the number, spacing and effective length of which can be set for desired packing conditions. Flags for signaling filling of the lanes are mounted to an adjustable end plate, and can be centered laterally according to lane width and article shape. The flags intercept a light beam between a light emitter and sensor, the alignment of which is maintained regardless of changes in lane number or dimensions.A universal intermediate grid is also provided, having article guide flaps which can be positioned longitudinally to accommodate various arrays and sizes. The flaps are mounted diagonally with respect to transversely positionable bars, and cross bars are obviated.

Abstract: A neck-down bottle packing grid which eliminates glass to metal contact between the packing apparatus and the glass bottles which includes a plurality of partitions extending approximately parallel with respect to one another having guiding blocks, deflectors or doghouses of nylon or some other soft material equally spaced along the upper edges thereof, these deflectors being fixedly mounted upon deflector or doghouse mounts firmly secured to the upper edge of the partitions, also including a plurality of finger blocks extending downwardly on both sides of the partitions below each doghouse location, the finger blocks including two outwardly facing guide surfaces which taper downwardly and obliquely outwardly away from the partitions to define in combination with adjacent partition and guide surfaces a plurality of bottle receiving cells for sorting the downwardly moving bottles into an array for direct placement into a case or the like, in order to prevent glass to metal contact a plurality of covers of soft

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism having a conveying surface that is supported for movement along a rectilinear path and which is pivotable about a horizontal axis for positioning the conveying surface at various points in a container so as to facilitate filling thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a charge of articles such as bottles and loading the articles into a container, comprising a supporting grid structure, conveyor means for loading a plurality of the articles onto the grid structure, means for moving the grid structure to permit the articles to drop between the members of the grid system through the open spaces therebetween, and means for retarding the rate of fall of the articles into the container comprising a plurality of retarder means each comprising a lever arm having an article-engaging plate at one end and an adjustably mounted weight at the other end for applying the proper amount of retarding force against the articles as they fall into the container. The entire operation may be carried out automatically by means of an electrically-controlled and operated apparatus.

Abstract: In case packing apparatus which includes a stop subjacent a plurality of vertical container accumulating channels, pockets below the stop for accepting containers on release by the stop and means for discharging the containers from the pockets to a case, the improvement comprising a container drop escapement vertically reciprocable between the channels and the pockets. The method involves isolating stacks of fragile containers situated in the accumulating channels from the lower layer prior to deposition of the latter in the packing case to minimize impact damage.