Abstract: The inserting station for a packing machine for inserting articles in boxes in layers comprises a plurality of lifting elements following the articles in the conveying direction. These lifting elements at least partly pass through the article conveyor means in order to successively raise the articles. The in each case raised lifting element forms a stop member for the following article. Each lifting element is shorter in the conveying direction than the extension of the article therein, which represents a measure for the overlap of the articles in a layer. In this way it is possible to position for forming a layer and overlap articles with an all-round flat or irregular edge.

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: An apparatus for packaging product-filled sealed bags in cases includes an inclined plate and an extensible pushing plate operable to arrange a predetermined number of bags fed from an infeed conveyor in a row on the inclined plate. The row is supported thereon by a movable support pivotable from a holding or supporting position to a retracted position in which the row is free to slide downwardly off the inclined plate and onto a retractable bottom plate. The movable support further operates to position each row formed in an upright position on the bottom plate, where a predetermined number of rows are successively accumulated. The accumulated rows are laterally supported on one side by the movable support and on the other side by a cylinder having a supporting back plate at the end. When a predetermined number of rows have been accumulated, the bottom plate is retracted to allow a cylinder-operated pushing plate to push the rows downwardly into an underlying open case.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating and stacking articles, such as sausages or other food products, in cylindrical shaped casings, includes a conveyor moving the articles in groups to positions where portions of the group are removed by a conveyor to positions from which they are further moved into a conveyor having carriages receiving a group portion as a lower tier of a stack thereof and subsequently receiving another group portion as an upper tier.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically, rapidly, and simultaneously packing multiple layers of fruit, such as cantaloupes, for example, into packing boxes wherein the layers of fruit are packed in a predetermined staggered or complementary pattern. A pair of packing heads, i.e., a first packing head and a second packing head, in near side-by-side relationship, are automatically simultaneously tilted, in response to like mechanisms or actuators, to deposit the fruit which are automatically prearranged thereon in a predetermined pattern into indexed packing boxes. The second packing head which packs the top layer of fruit is set back slightly from the first packing head which packs the first or bottom layer of fruit thus allowing the second packing head to place its fruit onto the bottom layer. The container is then automatically moved forward in order that the next cycle can take place. Structure providing this unique arrangement is described.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting finned packages into a container, in successive groups of laterally juxtaposed packages, by clamping at least one fin of each package in a group in a common clamping device composed of a movable clamping jaw and a counter jaw, introducing the clamped-in packages into a container, and releasing the clamping device to deposit the group of packages in the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating discrete stacks of superimposed note books has a feeding conveyor which delivers note books seriatim into each of a battery of receptacles forming a row which extends transversely of the direction of feed of note books. Each receptacle has a composite bottom wall with two elongated horizontal carriers which are movable sideways toward and away from each other to constitute a platform for an oncoming note book in those positions in which they are closer to each other and to provide an opening for gravitational descent of a note book onto a stacking table therebelow in those positions in which they are more distant from each other. The carriers are parallel to the direction of feed of note books into the respective receptacles, one carrier of each bottom wall is connected to a first reciprocable support, and the other carrier of each bottom wall is connected to a second reciprocable support.

Abstract: Articles of fruit are fed to a receiving head, positioned in a predetermined pattern for packing, transferred in that pattern to a transfer rack which advances toward and pivots into a container to be loaded, and deposits the fruit in the same pattern. Apparatus for pivoting the transfer rack as it advances toward the container includes rotational members connected by a chain. Additional articles of fruit in a different pattern are deposited as a second layer by means of adjacent duplicate apparatus.

Abstract: A carton filling machine for receiving a plurality of tapered wall containers from a serial conveyor and loading them into cartons. The containers are assembled in a collecting area within the machine and engaged by a clamp head assembly. The clamp head assembly is moved horizontally to a position above a case conveyor. Opened cases on the case conveyor are moved vertically into a container receiving position below the cup clamp assembly to receive containers therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading inserts to be encapsulated from cartridges into a loading frame is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a loading frame base provided with a plurality of guide members, stopping members arranged on the loading frame base for positioning inserts on the guide members, hydraulic cylinders for lifting up the loading frame to load the inserts on the guide members into the loading frame, and an insert feeding mechanism arranged at the rear end of the loading frame base and composed of a cartridge base on which cartridges are placed, and apparatus for intermittently elevating the cartridge base. In operation, inserts contained in cartridges slide along the grooves of the guide members, whereby they are positioned on the guide members, and then loaded into the loading frame by raising motion of the loading frame.

Abstract: A wrapping machine comprising an intermittently rotating wrapping wheel having individual pockets for receiving in succession an article to be wrapped and a wrapper, the wrapping wheel being operative during its rotation to fold the wrappers partially around the articles and to bring the pockets, each containing a partially wrapped article, in succession to a transfer station, and a continuously moving conveyor carrying a series of pushers, said pushers being arranged to move through the pockets of the wrapping wheel in succession as they reach and while they are stationary at the transfer station, to withdraw the partially wrapped articles from the pockets and traverse them in succession through a final wrapping station at which the wrap is completed.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for loading sausages into trays, which includes a conveyor for the sausages and another for the trays. The sausages and trays are carried in the same direction laterally adjacent each other, and the trays are arrested one by one at a loading station. A low-friction table surface is located immediately above the tray and sausages are placed in side-by-side relation on the table. When the requisite number of sausages are accumulated on the table, a pusher blade shoves the sausages past the forward end of the table surface and into the forward end of the tray. The tray is then moved forward one-half its length, so that the next batch of sausages is inserted in the rearward end.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for efficiently collating flanged packages at a high speed and then positioning them in a packing carton. The apparatus comprises a collator head assmbly having a plurality of collator heads adjacent one another in a preset configuration. A plurality of air cylinders coupled to the collator heads move the heads in an inward-outward relationship relative to each other enabling collation of the packages attached to the collator heads. Means are provided to enable the collator heads to pick up packages in a preset configuration, transport them to a packaging carton and place them therein.

Abstract: The encasing apparatus of this invention comprises a feed mechanism, a turnabout mechanism, and a slide mechanism, and may be additionally provided with a partition sheet feeder depending upon the type of articles to be packed. The turnabout mechanism receives articles delivered from the feed mechanism with a tray, allows each prescribed number of such articles to line up successively in a first direction of the tray so that the articles lie in the same direction, and, after turning the tray around a vertical shaft through a fixed angle, inclines the tray to move the articles in a second direction at an angle of 90.degree. to the first direction, thereby delivering the articles to the slide mechanism. Subsequently, the slide mechanism lines up the articles so as to true up the ends of the articles in the second direction, and then introduces them regularly into the packing box.

Abstract: A container loading machine which includes a frame through which a cross feed conveyor feeds successive open crates, containers or receptacles so as to position the open containers successively in the machine for receiving a plurality of layers of articles, such as egg cartons, therein, and for conveying each loaded container away from the machine. The machine includes a plurality of upstanding carton receiving rods, the ends of which project upwardly through the bottom of the container within the loading zone of the machine so that the upper ends stop adjacent the open top of the container in a position to receive the first layer of accumulated egg cartons from a storage zone, thereabove. An infeed carton conveyor, which includes a pair of spaced, flexible, opposed, endless belts, carry successive egg cartons to the storage zone.