Abstract: A compressed (e.g. accordian pleated) assembly of tubular sheet material (preferably plastic material), is deployed to form an extended tube by a device that consists essentially of an arched rigid framework (curved, triangular, rectangular, or any other shaped arch suited to the shape of the goods to be stored) with a skin of sheet metal or fiberglass extending over its upper part. The tubular sheet material can be deployed into an extended tube at the rear of the device by pulling the latter forwardly along the ground, the free end of the tube having been suitably anchored at the starting location. This tube deployment can be combined with a series of loading operations whereby goods to be stored, e.g. cylindrical or large square bales of forage, are inserted from the front of the device through the arched framework and onto a lower portion of the extended tube as it is formed. This lower portion rests on the ground in a loading area beneath a rearwardly extending overhang of the framework.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for arranging articles in a container, wherein the articles are stacked within the container. In one embodiment, a container is fed in a substantially horizontal upper position and transferred to a nonhorizontal position. Articles are horizontally fed to the container while the container is in the nonhorizontal position, and the articles are stacked in rows within the container. The articles are arranged such that the container can be used to display the articles for sale.

Abstract: A portable storage unit with multiple linear pockets to carry a large assortment of embroidery floss of different variety and color, and a means to facilitate storage of embroidery floss into the pockets using a special tool.

Abstract: A packing machine for tomatoes or the like has a rear portion with a low backline pressure conveyor arranged into plural lanes divided by tapered walls. The rear portion of the machine is reciprocated sideways so that bulk tomatoes entering the rear of the machine are distributed among the several lanes. Tomatoes are transported to a station where a paddle wheel with flexible arms prevents the forward progress of tomatoes until sensing apparatus determines that a plurality of lane positions are filled by tomatoes. Then a row of tomatoes are discharged through a front chute into a single layer carton. An escrow lane has entry and exit control devices which are responsive to a manually operated switch to add further tomatoes to the carton. The carton is at an incline and reciprocates back-and-forth so that tomatoes nest in a single layer, and are packed more densely thereby. The machine can pack by weight or by count.

Abstract: A detonating cord transport system is disclosed wherein detonating cord is windingly disposed on a plurality of separator-support members in such a manner that the cord is wholly accessible from a front face surface and is thus disposed without having to manipulate the separator-support members. For each separator-support member, the detonating cord is windingly disposed on a plurality of winding support devices such that there are a plurality of severing locations at frequent intervals at which severing locations there is incorporated means for stopping any detonation that occurs, with the result that such detonation will be confined to a relatively short length of detonating cord and will also be confined to the detonating cord transport system container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling sheet metal stampings utilizing a tack including a base structure defining a floor surface, upstanding end structures, and forklift openings to facilitate transport of the rack. A plurality of leaves are positioned in spaced relation along the floor surface with each leaf including a hinge along its lower edge defining a hinge axis extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the rack. The leaf nearest one of the end structures is spaced from that end structure to allow that leaf to assume a pivoted position on one side of a reference plane in which the upper end of the leaf is supported by the one end structure and the leaf nearest the other end structure is spaced from that end structure to allow that leaf to assume a pivoted position on the other side of its reference plane in which the leaf is supported by the other end structure.

Abstract: A queing means transfers surface mount components randomly stored in a detachable hopper into a plurality of parallel lines formed by grooves in a track plate. Vibrator means translate the components along the grooves in the downwardly extending track plate toward a shuttle assembly. With respect to pairs of such track grooves, the shuttle assembly alternately transports a chip from each groove comprising the pair into a plunger assembly. A tube magazine carrying a plurality of carrier tubes to be loaded with components is releasably disposed adjacent the plunger assembly whereby periodic downward movement of plungers simultaneously forces a component from each line of components in the plunger assembly formed by the shuttle mechanism into a respective one of the tubes, and the process is repeated until the tubes are filled with components as desired. Pneumatic means are provided for urging the components backwards from the plunger assembly along the grooves toward and into the hopper.

Abstract: A cutting and sorting apparatus having a device for feeding a long continuous negative film in the longitudinal direction of the negative film, a cutter device for cutting the long continuous film at every perdetermined number of frames, a control device for controlling the cutting operation of the cutter device, and a negative film sheet loading device for loading a negative film sheet carrying protective sacks into which the cut segments of the negative film are to be inserted. The control device controls the operation of the cutter device such that the long continuous negative film is cut when the film has been fed by predetermined length after a frame number detection device detects of a specific frame number put on the negative film at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A dense pack gas adsorbent means comprising at least one particulate gas adsorbent having a particulate size distribution in which the largest small particles are less than one-third (1/3) the size of the smallest large particle and sixty percent (60%) of the adsorbent particles having a size greater than sixty (60) mesh, said adsorbent particle oriented to provide a packing density grater than one hundred and thirty percent (130%) of the particle's apparent density.

Abstract: A system for automatically filling cans with elongated products, comprising a chamber for filling an empty can and located above the can in a stationary filling position and a device for projecting successive groups of parallel elongated products through a side opening of the chamber as the filling chamber is moving downwards, the invention being in particular applicable to the filling of cans with French beans or carrots.

Abstract: A universal packaging system for objects such as electrical components, connectors, semiconductors, chips, etc. includes an elongated, hollow, tubular package formed of resiliently deformable material for containing a plurality of said objects, each object having an identical or substantially similar silhouette or profile and orientated with a predetermined axis of its profile, aligned along a common longitudinal axis or line within the tube. A package is formed providing protection for the connectors during storage, handling, and shipment, and the tube also serves as a feed magazine for dispensing the objects at an assembly station or other work station as needed. The present invention also features an apparatus and method for loading packages of connectors and for unloading or feeding connectors from the packages at a point of end usage.

Abstract: The process includes an initial phase in which pieces of fruit in a line are lifted by suction and the line of fruit is then transferred to the packing case with one piece of fruit situated in the central zone of the line being displaced angularly and the remainder of the fruit either side of this central piece being displaced towards the center of the line prior to the entry of the line of fruit into the case. After entry, the pieces of fruit resume their initial position and are deposited in the case and the suction is discontinued. The machinery includes a mechanism having a plurality of vacuum operated suction pads of which the central suction pad can be moved angularly and the remainder have the means to be displaced laterally.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a fixed bed reactor, a method of loading catalyst into the reactor to minimize plugging and to improve the uniformity of fluid flow across the reactor, and a hydrotreating process employing the novel reactor. The system utilizes removable partition forms and/or permanent interbed baskets to create gradual transition zones between catalyst layers and to significantly increase the open area available for flow at the interface of such zones.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of packaging vials containing diagnostic specimens for purposes of transport. The method is comprised of the steps of: firstly, wrapping a vial in shock absorbing material; secondly, inserting the vial wrapped in shock absorbing material in a pressure vessel, the pressure vessel having moisture absorbing material lining the bottom; thirdly, wrapping the sides of the pressure vessel with a plurality of layers of cardboard; fourthly, shielding the top and bottom of the pressure vessel with a plurality of layers of cardboard; and fifthly, sealing the pressure vessel with cardboard wrap and shielding in a cardboard box.

Abstract: A container filling apparatus and method that includes a container support movable on a frame so as to raise and lower a container mounted thereon. A conveyor discharge section is also movably mounted on the frame so as to raise and lower the conveyor discharge end. The container support is coupled to the conveyor discharge section by a linkage that provides the container filling apparatus with the ability to initially lower the container support through an initial filling phase while maintaining the conveyor discharge section in a lowered condition, and thereafter simultaneously lower the container support while raising the conveyor discharge section. The linkage preferably includes a slotted bracket pivotally couple to the container support, a joining bracket pivotally mounted on the frame and having a follower mating with the slotted bracket, and a conveyor bracket pivotally mounted to the joining bracket and to the conveyor.

Abstract: Relatively flexible cookie trays are supported on a rotatable mount. The cookie trays are not solidly supported, but rather are supported along portions beneath, and in between, regions where cookies are to be received. As the trays are relatively flexible, it is important that, for soft cookies, no rigid or hard surface be encountered during the relatively high speed loading operation. In connection with this invention, a cookie separating device is used which includes a pair of fingers holding cookies back and releasing them individually at time intervals. Also included is a conveyor belt feeding directly and selectively to one of two conveyor belts, each conveyor belt being fed having a far end which directly loads empty cookie trays by moving upward or downward relative to the cookie tray as well as extending toward and away from the tray.

Abstract: Stacks which consist of nested cuplike objects and have the basic shape of elongate cylinders are inserted in the form of a plurality of layers consisting each of a plurality of stacks into containers. The stacks are first moved in their longitudinal direction as they are fed to the container above the same and are subsequently transversely pushed in a juxtaposed condition into layer-forming means, which are mounted over the container, until the layer-forming means contain a complete layer consisting of the stacks. Thereafter the layer-forming means together with the layer of stacks are lowered from above as far as the bottom or as far as to a previously formed layer. The bottom of the layer-forming means is then pulled out under the layer and is deflected and pulled up so that the layer is deposited in the container while the mutual orientation of the stacks is maintained.

Abstract: A method of packaging components (4) for shipping comprising: loading the components in rails (2); assembling a plurality of the rails into a composite structure (20); and wrapping the composite structure in an anti-static envelope (40) so as to form a quasi-rigid anti-static package (46). The method may further comprise the step of securing the composite structure, e.g. by fixing a strap (18) at each end, immediately before the wrapping step.A material for use in packaging components for shipping comprising a sandwich material (40) having: a first layer (42) of conductive material and a second layer (44) of static-dissipative material, the first and second layers being bonded together. The outer layer may be made of conductive paper to provide adequate snag- and tear-resistance and the inner layer may be made of an anti-static plastics material.

Abstract: Food products are packaged with a conveyor for carrying the food products to be packaged and a conveyor adapted to travel discontinuously for carrying open-topped containers beneath the leading edge of the food-product carrying conveyor at which point the container-carrying conveyor is inclined downwards in the direction of travel at an acute angle of less than 60.degree. to the horizontal so that the food product articles which fall off the leading edge of the food-carrying conveyor are consecutively received by for filling the container in a compact row with the food product articles. A container-supporting conveyor means may be utilized for advancing and urging the containers into position for filling at the successive stopping positions.

Abstract: An egg packing apparatus includes an endless conveyor including a plurality of rotatable parallel rollers each provided with a plurality of abutments in the form of annular flanges. The flanges of any one roller are aligned with flanges on other rollers to form a plurality of transport channels or feed paths extending to respective guide chutes. The guide chutes are each defined by a pair of opposing side walls, a pivotably mounted plate member and an additional wall opposite the plate member 36, the additional wall being provided with a V-shaped portion extending inwardly towards the plate member so that the guide chute has a decreased width in a central region. Upon the deposition of an egg on the plate member with the narrow end of the egg is contact with one of the side walls of the guide chute, the plate member is pivoted and the large end of the egg is temporarily held between the additional wall and the plate member, allowing the narrow end of the egg to swing downwardly.

Abstract: A package insert between two layers of articles comprises a rigid plate formed with openings spanned by at least one and preferably two flexible and advantageously elastic films which are deformed when upper articles are stacked on lower articles through the openings to nest the articles in place.

Abstract: A robot system for encasing conical articles, having along a moving path of a robot a conical article arraying and feeding device, an empty case for enclosing therein said conical articles and an inverting device for carrying and inverting a plurality of said conical articles, the robot having two kinds of grippers, one functioning to grip and convey the conical articles arranged on the arraying and feeding device and the other functioning to grip and convey the conical articles inverted on the inverting device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging eggs supplied by a feed conveyor, said eggs being supplied from said feed conveyor via transfer means to a carton. For the purpose of simultaneously packaging more than one row of eggs, the successive rows of eggs are transferred from said feed conveyor by means of a star wheel and at least one reciprocating sliding plate arranged downstream of said wheel, to two or more successive rows of egg holding or carrying means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring elongated parts, such as spark plug insulator bodies, travelling in a single row, end to end, on a first conveyor to a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor, the parts being placed each in a part-holding cavity in an insert in the receptacle, the part-holding cavity being disposed in consecutive rows. A part pick-up member picks up parts one at a time at the end of the first conveyor and transfers each part to the receptacle in which the part is placed substantially vertically with its end in a part-holding cavity in the insert. Sensors distinguish between good and defective parts at the location where the parts are picked up at the end of the first conveyor such that defective parts are rejected and the part pick-up member picks up only non-defective parts. Sensors detect fallen-over parts in the receptacle and stop loading in the event that parts are not properly placed in the holding cavities in the receptacle insert.

Abstract: A device for filling a package with a predetermined weight of items, such as pieces of chicken, is disclosed. The device, under the control of a computer, sorts predetermined quantities of chicken pieces to a plurality of pockets each of which is adapted to transfer the predetermined quantities of chicken pieces sorted thereto so that they may be passed to a partially filled package, upon receipt of a control signal from the computer. The device, under the control of the computer, selects which of the pockets contains pieces of chicken which should be added to the partially filled package in order to bring the contents of that package up to the predetermined weight.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging radially expansile articles by passing a succession of such articles in generally coaxially aligned engaging relation with each other through a tubular guide which retains the articles against expansion, sequentially discharging the end most article into a second tubular guide sized to permit limited radial expansion of the received article, extending an engaging member into the second guide to displace each successively discharged article away from the first guide to enable unobstructed discharge and expansion of the next end most article, and engaging the last discharged article to displace it and a predetermined number of previously discharged articles out of the second guide for bagging.

Abstract: A system and method for packing containers, such as beverage containers, into a transport tray is comprised of a first conveyor track on which the containers are transported and a second conveyor track on which the trays are transported. A portion of the second conveyor track is inclined with respect to the first conveyor track so that the first and second tracks converge at a predetermined location. A packing ramp is pivotally mounted at the downstream end of the first track adjacent to the predetermined location at which the two tracks converge. The packing ramp is moved upwardly to an inclined position when the ramp is in contact with either the leading or the trailing edge of a tray. The containers are packed into the tray in sequence from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the tray while the tray is on the inclined portion of the second track. A plurality of sensors, such as photoeyes, is used in conjunction with a computer to control the operation of the system.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided to load articles, such as nuts, into a tube. The nuts are fed into the tube from a bowl of vibratory feeder. In order to maintain the mass being vibrated constant during the feeding of the nuts into the tube, the tube and the bowl are vibrated together. Since the tube and the bowl are vibrated together, the nuts are vibrated when they are in the tube to move the nuts along the tube and to maintain the number of nuts being vibrated constant as the tube is filled with nuts. The tube is advantageously coiled and supported on the bowl.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for elongated articles comprises a first conveying device for transporting the articles from a ready-supply station to an aligning and gathering apparatus and then to a layer-forming apparatus, from where they are transported layerwise by means of a second conveying device into a container in which they are stacked in layers on a support which is lowerable stepwise. The first conveying device comprises a plurality of beams which are movable in and oppositely to the conveying direction and are liftable and lowerable. The aligning and gathering apparatus comprises a plurality of abutments past which the beams are movable, the articles lying on them being held fast so that they are aligned parallel to each other and pushed into lateral contact with each other. The layer-forming apparatus comprises a stationary support whose supporting surface is just as wide as one layer in the container.

Abstract: Elongated rectangular pouches are longitudinally compressed for packing in a conventional packing case by a pair of counter-rotating paddle assemblies. Each paddle assembly has four paddles arranged in staggered relationship around an associated shaft, the shaft being located outside of and slightly below the path of movement of the pouches as the pouches move in side-by-side relationship between two upright paddles. Two horizontally arranged adjacent paddles receive the pouches at a load station, and rotation of the paddle assemblies drops the pouches between the paddle assemblies as these two paddles move into depending vertical positions where they are more closely spaced relative to one another than the upright paddles in order to compress the pouches as the pouches drop into the case.

Abstract: A method and device fills sheet-like blanks, such as folded box blanks, into a container on the edge of the blanks to form a stack or row therein. The method and device utilizes a feed unit for removing blanks from a flow of shingled blanks one at a time and inserting them into a conveyor which transports them to a filling unit that inserts them one at a time on edge in a row or stack in the container. The device includes a control arrangement including various sensors, one for determining the presence of blank at the filling unit, one for detecting of the position of a surface on which the blanks are being placed and one for determining a position of a side wall of the container.

Abstract: A method for loading a container with rods of nuclear reactor fuel assemblies having mutually parallel longitudinal axes and containing nuclear fuel or neutron absorption material, which includes the steps of loading the container initially with dummies corresponding to the rods in a given dense packing arrangement, and thereafter inserting the rods in axial direction thereof into the given dense packing arrangement so as to replace the dummies; and a device for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging portions of an extrudable product, such as butter or margarine. The entire apparatus is driven by a single motor with all operations being synchronized therewith. The pliable product is pumped through an extruder, cut into portions, and deposited on one layer of channeled substrate and covered with another layer of substrate, which has an adhesive applied thereto. The substrates are then drawn between compression rollers and cut between the product portions and the product portions automatically fed to trays. As each tray is filled, a rapid advance moves the tray forward a predetermined amount so that the product portions will continue to feed into the next tray. As the trays move forward, they are removed from the entire apparatus for either shipment and/or storage. The adhesive holds the upper substrate to the lower substrate for enclosing the product portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring parts travelling in a single row on a first conveyor to a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor, the parts being placed in the receptacle in consecutive rows of a plurality of the parts. A part loader, comprising an elbow-joint arm having a pivotable first arm and a second arm mounted on the end of the first arm pivotable relative to the first arm, supports a part pick-up member mounted on the end of the second arm which picks up at least one part from the end of the first conveyor and transfers the part to the receptacle on the second conveyor. Alternatively, the part pick-up member is adapted to pick up a row of parts from the first conveyor and to place one row of parts in the part receptacle, or to rotate a part during transfer from the first conveyor to the part receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring parts travelling in a single row on a first conveyor to a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor, the parts being placed in the receptacle in consecutive rows of a plurality of the parts. A part loader, comprising an elbow-joint arm having a pivotable first arm and a second arm mounted on the end of the first arm pivotable relative to the first arm, supports a part pick-up member mounted on the end of the second arm which picks up a row of parts from the end of the first conveyor and transfers the parts to the receptacle on the second conveyor. The part pick-up member is adapted to pick up a row of parts from the first conveyor and to place the row of parts in the part receptacle in the same position, or to rotate the parts about 90.degree. or 270.degree. during transfer from the first conveyor to the part receptacle on the second conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the automatic boxing of bags or sachets into cardboard containers, fed by continuous strips of bags or sachets coming from the packaging machine.The device according to the invention provides no means of removal, transport and boxing of the cut sachets since the containers to be filled, according to this invention, stop directly below the cutting edge, under the right-angled projection of the first sachet in the row which is to be cut. Therefore the stack inside the container is formed automatically by the sachets simply dropping one on top of the other, through the force of gravity.

Abstract: A tube packaging method comprises (a) providing a base platform having a radial array of nests, each adapted for receiving an electron tube, (b) positioning the platform with an empty one of the nests in a prescribed position, (c) loading an electron tube into the nest, (d) rotating the platform about a center to position another empty nest in the prescribed position, and (e) loading another electron tube into another nest.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading parts from the end of a first conveyor to holding cavities in an insert in a receptacle travelling on a second conveyor and being indexed by the second conveyor to locate each row relative to a part-loading unit. The insert is located within the receptacle and the holding cavities in the insert are located and sized by expandable probes disposed in a row and introduced simultaneously each in a cavity of a row of the insert and held expanded in each cavity, while an already located and sized row of cavities is being loaded with parts, one cavity at a time.

Abstract: A method for splicing the trailing end portion of an advancing web of packing material to the leading end portion of an initially stationary second web of the same packing material such that after splicing marks provided on each of the webs in an equally spaced relation continue as an uninterrupted regular row, in particular in a packing machine. The articles to be packed are advanced spaced apart as a continuous flow into a web of packing material folded to a tube and are carried and advanced along sealing stations by the advancing tube for producing a longitudinal sealing seam and transverse sealing seams in the packing material between the articles. The transverse seams are cut thereafter and the discrete packed articles are discharged on a coveyor, in which the first web runs over a roller and the leading end portion provided with an adhesive of the second web is placed over a second roller opposite to the first roller.

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: Small glass bottles of unstable configuration are drop packed in several stages to fill a packing case capable of holding a relatively large number of such bottles. Separate slugs of articles are formed to fill predetermined portions of the case in a method which permits use of a conventional drop packer grid.

Abstract: A packaging machine for automatically packaging articles in a honeycomb structure which includes mechanisms for providing a honeycomb structure in an expanded condition in a loading station. The articles to be packaged are directed into the loading station, dropped into the expanded honeycomb structure, and the articles and honeycomb are subsequently dropped into the container. This is automatically done on a repeated basis until the container is filled, after which the container is automatically moved out of the loading station and a new container is moved into place.

Abstract: A device for filling a package with a predetermined weight of items, such as pieces of chicken, is disclosed. The device, under the control of a computer, determines which, of several pieces of chicken held in a plurality of holding means, should be added to a partially filled package in order to bring the contents of that package up to the predetermined weight.

Abstract: A case loader for articles in which the articles are received in a straight line extension from the article conveyor and in which they trip a first sensor when a case load is received, and the cases are directed to a loading station below and beside the article receiving station, the cases themselves tilted to receive the articles from an inclined chute the articles falling down the chute, the chute being arranged to reorient the bottles from a straight line into the rows and columns for the case, the case falling back onto the conveyor when filled and being removed from the case loader by the conveyor chain.

Abstract: Graphic means in the form of one or more symbols applied to one or more of the panels of a plurality of cargo containers to be loaded in a cargo receiving space, such as the cargo receiving space of a vehicle. The symbols provide graphic instructions to a loader as to how the cargo containers should be oriented in the cargo space of a vehicle in order to obtain a loading pattern which substantially maximizes the number of cartons that can be loaded in the cargo receiving space. The loading pattern obtained from the graphic instructions provided by the symbols also serves to reduce the clearance between the cartons and the walls of the cargo receiving space and hence the possibility of damage to cargo in the containers or cartons due to shifting while in transit.

Abstract: A rotary horizontal table is provided and has item delivery structure associated therewith for supplying items to be packaged to the table and a plurality of stationary worker positions are disposed about the table slightly outwardly of the periphery thereof. Rotary container support structure spaced apart in a generally circular path substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the table is also provided and supported for simultaneous angular displacement about the table with the support structure substantially registered with the outer periphery of the table. Workpersons disposed at the worker positions may manually transfer items from the table to containers supported from the container support structure and first drive structure is operatively connected to the table for rotating the latter while second drive structure is operably connected to the container support structure for angularly displacing the latter.

Abstract: Device in a tow baler for transferring accumulated layers of filamentary tow, which are temporarily stored in an accumulating chamber and supported on a horizontally slidable hold-up slide, from the accumulating chamber to the tow baling chamber below without undesirably sliding and entangling the tow layers as the hold-up slide is slidably withdrawn from beneath the accumulated layers.

Abstract: In order to provide for the secure and orderly storage of flat objects on a carrier web, in particular unfilled plastic bags on a plastic carrier web, the invention provides a method and an apparatus for the sequential delivery of preformed plastic bags having a unilaterally extending attachment flap. The bags are delivered onto a moving carrier web also made of plastic film. Various alignment and positioning devices place the plastic bags seriatim on the carrier web while a heat-welding mechanism attaches the flap of each bag to the carrier web in a predetermined region. A tear line or perforation line permits subsequent removal of the bag from the web while the flap remains attached thereto. The apparatus includes power sources for the cyclic actuation of the alignment and welding mechanism in synchronism with the speed of delivery of the bags to and from the machine. The apparatus also includes a reciprocating storage container permitting the zig-zag layered stacking of the web with the attached bags.

Abstract: A packaging machine includes a bottle carrier erector section, a bottle infeed and carrier transfer section and a bottle loading section. The erector section continuously sets up carriers which are then transferred to the loading section and at the same time bottles continuously are supplied to the loading section. The loading section includes a suspension feed line for the bottles and a carrier feed line to feed carriers in the same direction as and below the suspension feed line. The carrier feed line and bottle feed line converge and are so timed that each bottle arrives at a position directly above a carrier when the convergence of the feed lines has brought the bottle into close proximity with a carrier. Each bottle is caused to enter a carrier at an angle to the vertical and means are provided for controlling the bottle attitude and for causing detachment from the suspension feed line to deposit the bottle in a carrier at the appropriate moment.

Abstract: A column of flat articles such as chip carrier lids (10) are assembled in a tube (35). A base (18) supports a typical row of such lids (10), each with a back surface (14) on the base (18) and a mating surface (15) facing upward. The base (18) also has an aperture (30) for passing serially downward therethrough, each lid (10) with its back surface (14) facing downward. A bracket (32) having a spring biased pin (34) and a block (38) is provided to support under the base (18) a tube (35) with an open end facing upward at the aperture (30). Plates (22, 23 and 24) are provided to guide to and introduce a lid (10) into the aperture (30) and onto any contents within the tube (35). A frictional plug (45) has fins (46) biased between opposing walls of the tube (35) to yieldably resist downward movement within the tube (35).