US2318598A

US2318598A - Case filling machine

Info

Publication number: US2318598A
Application number: US256068A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allan C Davis
Original assignee: F A Davis & Sons
Current assignee: F A Davis & Sons
Priority date: 1939-02-13
Filing date: 1939-02-13
Publication date: 1943-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1960-05-11

Description

May 11, 1943. I A. c. DAVIS 23318598 cAsE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1s, 1939 e sheets-snaai 1 v f AZZIBQI/g www May ll, 1943,

cAsE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13,-1959 .e sneetsLsheet 2 Azza-fn C. Davis;`

'- A. c. DAI/ls. x 2,318,598 l May ,11, 1943.

A. c. DAVIS cAsE FILLING MACHINE l Filed Feb. 1s, 1939 y e sheets-sheet s Allah CECI Uz''.

999' QWQWWQ y www@ May 11, 1943.

A. c. DAVIS I 22,318,598

cAsE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1s; 193s s sheets-sheen Y .AZZQII CDQUL'S.

A. C. DAVIS CSE FILLING MACHINE Flled Feb 13, 1939 fe sheets-sheet 5 Gos May ll, 1943- A. c. vDAVIS 2,318,598

CASE FILLING lvmcHINLl Filed Feb.` 13, 1939 6 Shee'ts-Shee'l'I 6 Da v is.

v All@ c? Patented May 11, 1943 UNETED STATE,

hasta CASE FILLING MACHINE Allan C. Davis, Baltimore, Md., assigner to F. A.

Davis & Sons, Baltimor e, Md., a partnership Applicatie February 13, 1939, serial No. 256,068

29 Cnims.- (Craze-,44).

The invention relates to a machine for iilling cases with bottles and'particularly to a power operated machine which is substantially auto-` matic and works for long periods without attention and practically without supervision.

While the machine is of the type which introduces the bottles into the cases row by row, it operates with suicient speed to pack the entire output of lled bottles as they come from an automatic filling machine so that the casing machine of the application is well adapted for use. in a lineof machines of which the bottle filler is the rst" unit, and its capacity is not essentially limited to the output of a single lling machine as filling machines are of various capacities. Considered in a general way, the machine comprises a magazine Which shifts the bottles with a step by step motion, the bottles being arranged in the magazine in rows, each row being in a line transverse to the direction of the motion of the magazine. In the form of the inventionshown, the magazine is of the cylinder type and its step by step motion is of a rotary nature.

Cooperating with the magazine is a feeding conveyor which presents the bottles in a line transverse to the motion of the magazine. The cases tobe filled are also fed by means of presenting means comprising a conveyor on which they are free to yield backwardly relatively to the motion of the conveyor sliding thereon with slight friction so that there is no tendency for the `cases to become jammed or broken on account of the conveyor motion, the conveyor being so constructed that it has no protruding parts or portions which can become locked with the cases thrusting them forwardly which might cause them to be broken and destroyed or injured.

The cases are generally divided into rows of compartments for the bottles and the machine includes automatic means for positioning each case in a series of successive positions in each' of which one row of the compartments after the other of the case is in registration with guiding and controlling means for the bottles which guidin g and controlling means directs each line of bottles in turn from the magazine to their position in the case.

vIt is also of interest that the case control Vand presenting means includes in addition to the conveyor a yieldable device for advancing the cases I step by step which is so spaced relatively to thc positioning means that there is a considerable degree of lost vmotion between the portion of the caseA which is engaged by the advancing Vmeans and the engaging portion of this advancing means. This provides for variation in the size of the cases and in the spacing of the compartments and particularly for the extra thickness of the 'sidewalls of the cases which intervene at times between the advancing means and the point at which'the bottles are delivered to the cases, it being understood that the side walls of the boxes are generally thicker than the inside compartment walls.

The means for actuating the magazine with a step by step motion as above mentioned, in the preferred form, includes a detector in the path oi the bottles as they are fed to the magazine which detector is connected to the actuating means, to control the latter so that the actuating means only becomes operative to move the magazine with the step by step motion aforesaid when the bottles entering the magazine are in a closed line so that there are no spaces.

The machine also includes as part ofthe gen-V eral combination the bottle conveyor previously mentioned which movesat right vangles to the motion of the cases and in the direction of Vthe lines of the bottles in the cases and the magazine, both said lines being parallel, and it is of importance as contributing to the satisfactory operation of the machine that the bottles are .free to slide on the conveyor so that there is no tendency to break them due to jointingand cramping, and, asaforesaid, the bottle detector mechanism provided controls the operation of the step b-y step motion of the magazine. n'

The machine may be described in a general way as comprising a magazine having a step by step motion, as aforesaid, vwith means for feeding cases into receiving relation with the magazine in the direction of the motion of the magazine, the bottles being fed to the cases and arranged `in a line transverse to 'the' direction of the motion of the'magazine and the casing feed. The invention relates to the machine as a whole and to the various combinations of features, and alsoto the individual features and the construction and arrangement thereof as more particularly vhereinafter described and vpointed out: in the claims, considerable variation as to detail of construction being contemplated. Y l

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrate a machine embodying the features of my invention inthe preferred form, numerous variations of construction being Within the skill of those familiarwith the design of Vmachines'for, similar purposes,

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation` of the machine looking from the left, the front being the side from which the cases are fed, which is at the right of said figure.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan looking downwardly from the line 2 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view looking downwardly from the inclined section line 3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation looking to the left from the line 4 4 in Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation looking to the right from the line 5 5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6 in Figure 4 looking to the left.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the control mechanism whereby the filling operation of delivering the bottles to the cases and particularly the operation of moving the magazine is confined to periods when there is a full line of bottles ready for presentation to the magazine.

Referring to the drawings by numerals each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts of the different gures, the machine in the preferred form, as illustrated, comprises a frame I, a magazine'2 which, as shown, is of the cylindrical type rotating with a step by step motion as hereinafter described, other forms of magazine having a step by step motion being suitable to this machine, a case conveyor 3 which is beneath the magazine and moves in the direction of motion of the magazine, and a bottle conveyor 4, see Figures 2 and 5, which moves at right angles to the case conveyor and delivers the bottles to the bottom center of the magazine in a line parallel to the axis, and the machine also includes the actuating arm 5, operated by connecting rod B, and controlled by the automatic bottle detector control 1, Figure 7, which limits operation of the magazine to periods when a full line of bottles is presented. The machine is further provided with dropping plate 8, Figure 1, which at intervals supports and drops the line of bottles to be delivered tothe case, and case positioning means 9, and step by step case advancing elements I0.

The filling mechanism and the conveyors in the form of machine shown, the sources of power being a matter of selection, are driven by means of an electric motor I I, this motor as mounted on the frame being shown `at the top of Figure 3, and I in end elevation at the bottom right in Figure 5. The motor shaft is equipped with a pulley I2, which by way of a belt I4 operates a pulley I5, which drives a reducing gear I6 which is of any convenient type mounted on the machine frame l I, at the bottom left in Figure 5.

This reducing gear IS in the form of machine shown, has a reducing ratio of 23 to 1, though this particular ratio is nonessential, the ratio selected being best suited t0- the manner in which the present machine is used, particularly in its relation to the filling machine from which it receives the bottles.

The -reducing gear I6 operates a drive shaft I'I, which is shown in end elevation in Figure 1 at the bottom and in the opposite end elevation `in Figure 4 at the bottom center, and this drive shaft carries secured thereto, as best shown in Figure 1, two sprockets. The sprocket AI8 drives the chain I9 which operates the mechanism at the left of Figure 1, and not shown in the drawings, by which the case conveyor 3 is driven. This conveyor could be driven from any suitable source, illustration of this detail being regarded as unnecessary, the exact speed of the conveyor having slight relation to the speed of operation of the machine as the cases are free to slip backwardly on the conveyor. This conveyor speed must, however, exceed the speed at which the cases are advanced by the step by step mechanism hereinafter described.

The drive shaft I1 also carries a sprocket 2D as shown in Figure 1 which, in turn, drives a chain 2| which extends upwardly and engages a sprocket 22 shown in dotted lines in Figure l. This sprocket 22 rotates upon and relatively to shaft 24, Figure 4, and carries a mitre or bevelled gear 25 secured thereto which, in turn, meshes with and drives a mitre gear 2B on a short longitudinal shaft 21 which has secured thereto a sprocket 28 which drives the bottle conveyor 4, best shown in plan in Figure 2, and in elevation in Figure 5. The conveyor 4 is an ordinary sprocket chain provided on one side with fiat plates 4 on which the bottles are supported in upright position, the plates in the horizontal position forming a continuous table in the area beneath and adjacent to the magazine. These plates are guided by a horizontal longitudinal slotted guide 4" in which the upper flight of chain 4 runs, the ends of the plates 4' resting directly on the guide at each side of the slot and being supported thereby in horizontal position throughout the entire traverse of the bottles o-n said conveyor. The conveyor 4 see Mg. 2,' passes downwardly through an opening 21 at the end of guide 4, around sprocket 28 and back to its point of loading. The conveyor 4 is provided with spaced side guides 25 Figure 2, overlying the ends of plates 4 to prevent displacement of the bottles, and the chain moves continuously, the bottles being carried and fed to the point of delivery to the magazine, being abut- -ted against the movable stopbar 29 shown in plan in Figure 2. This stop bar is shown in the form of a horizontal elongated bar 23 extending in a fore and aft direction as related to the direction of the feed of the cases and is pivoted at its forward end at 3D, the pivot pin being vertical and the motion of the stop bar 29 being vhorizontal and transverse to the casing conveyor 3. Stop or stop bar 29 is provided with an upright flange 3l terminating orl shouldered at 3 I as seen in plan inFigure 2, and the rear end of this ange at termination 3 I is engaged by a hook 32 formed on a horizontal swinging trigger 33, which extends transversely of the machine, i. e., transversely to the direction of the case feed and in the direction of the bottle feed. The trigger is pivoted at 34 to swing horizontally, and this trigger is provided at its end oppositely to the hook 32 with a detector nose 35. This detector nose 35 is of convex outline as to its forward end at 3G. 'I'his forward end 35 is sho-wn in Figure 2 as advanced between two adjacent bottles a and b which arespaced apart on account of insuflicient supply to close 4the line. With the nose of this position, the hook 32 is engaged with the end 3|' of the flange 3I of the swinging detector or stop bar 29, and the hook is held in an engaged position, the nose 35 being advanced by a spring 31 of comparatively light tension.

In the absence of sulhcient feeding pressure to close the line as between the bottles, a and 1),'

detector or stop bar 29 is advanced to bring the end 3I of the flange 3i into engagement with the hook 32 or in the path of the same by means of a weight 4I, see Figure 7. This Weight is mounted on an arm 42, and this arm 42 is radially mounted on a shaft 43 in suitable bearings on the frame and is supported in its lowest position by an adjustable stop 44 also on the frame. In order to provide any desired resistance to the advance of the bottles, the weight 4I is made adjustable along the arm 42. The shaft 43 is also provided with a radiating arm 45 shown substantially at right angles to the arm 42, which is shown approximately horizontal, the arm 45 being approximately vertical. The outer end. of the arm 45 is operatively engaged to the stop detector bar 29 by a connecting rod 41. The shaft 43 or more properly the disc 43 secured to the shaft shown in Figure 7 which is diagrammatic, also carries a switch control actuating pin 48. In the position of the parts as shown in Figure 7, the same being the normal position, this pin 48 supports the swinging member or lever 49 of an electric switch, and this switch controls an electric circuit 5l which when closed, energizes the coil or solenoid 52, having an armature 53 attached to a link 54 mounted on a swinging arm 55 shown fragmentarily in Figure '7. The lever 55, as shown in Figure 4, is pivotally mounted intermediately oi its length at 5S on the connecting rod 6 and the armature 53 is connected with the lever 55 on one side of this pivot, i. e., between the pivot 55 and the crank I1' which operates the link or connecting rod 8.

'The connecting rod 5 has a longitudinal slot 58 in which the crank pin 5S of the magazine arm or crank 5 slides freely when the parts are in the position illustrated in Figure 2, the line of bottles notl being full and there being no feed of bottles to the magazine. When the line of bottles is lled, there is suicient pressure to close the gap between the bottles a and b in Figure 2, expelling y the detector nose 35 to the position shown in Figure '7. The hook 32 is withdrawn releasing the end 3l of flange 3| and hence the arm 29. Then the feeding pressure of the bottles which has been suicient to expel the nose 35 moves l the lever or bar 29 to the right in Figure '1 applying tension to the rod er connecting rod 41 which rotates disc 43' to the right in Figure 7, lowering the switch control pin 48, and permitting the switch 55 to close by gravity or by any suitable means.

The circuit 5! is thus closed energizing the solenoid 52, and tending to depress the end of the lever 55 at 60 which is toward the crank I1. The lever 55 being intermediately and the rear end of the lever having a shoulder at 6| adapted to engage and lock the crank pin 5S, tends to raise into the path of the crank pin 59 in the slot 58, conning the crank pin to the rear end of the connecting rod 6 when the operation of the crank brings it to this position. This position of the parts is indicated by the dotted lines of Figure 4.

The crank I1 being secured to the drive shaft l1 is continuously operated in accordance with the throw of the crank so long as the machine is in operation and when the solenoid 52 is not energized the lever 55 occupies the full line position in Figure 4 and the pin 59 is free to slide relatively to connecting rod so that the latter moves without operating the arm 5, or magazine and parts of the machine except the conveyors are quiescent.

When the detector mechanism 1 is released as shown in Figure 'l by the presentation of a full line of bottles, the magazine arm 5is oscillated by the connecting rod I1 and the magazine 2 moves in left handed rotation, i. e., to the right in Figure 4 with a'step by step motion advancing the bottles in the compartment at the bottom pivoted at 55, .V

center of the magazine in Figure 4, which is indicated by c for convenience, the other compart-A ments d and c of the magazine, etc. being full due to the previous operation of the machine.

As soon as the bottles f, g, h, i, have been advanced out oi the line y' as shown in Figure '7 and clear of the same, the motion in Figure being in direction of the arrow lc, the next compartment L of the magazine will be in line with the bottle conveyor and readyto receive the next line of bottles as thebottle presenting operation is repeated.

`The bottles on the magazine' Zbeyond and in advance of the row c, i. e., those in the row of compartments d and e are supported by the stationary magazine bottom plate 0r supporting plate 63, Which is best illustrated in Figure 4. The motion of the magazine just described, i. e., a motion sufiicientto' move the line of bottles `g, h, i, out of the line of the bottle conveyor presenting the oncoming line of bottles y', is sufficient to move the bottles in the row e beyond the support 53. They are then ready to be dropped toward the case compartment 'x illustrated in Figure 4.

The magazine in the form shown comprises two parallel circular supporting plates 65." These plates are slightly spaced and secured together as hereinafter described forming a rigid end frame for the magazine 2. These plates are spaced by bushings 65 and connected together byv rods or pins, the same comprising a setof pins 56 at the periphery and S1 spaced inwardly so that they are located on. each Side of the necks of the bottles in "each ro'w, the bottles 'in the magazine having their necks disposed inward radially. Each rod or pin 66, 61 is reduced in diameter at 55' to extend through 'its bushings 65', and these pins are secured at their right hand ends, Fig. 6, in any suitable manner as by nuts 56 and 61', and they extend to the vleft of said plates as seen in Fig. 6'1`0r a distance, which may, for example, equal the width of four bottles as hereinafter'described. The spacing of the pins as aforesaid provides a series lof compartments or chambers providing for 'a series of rows of bottles parallel to the axis ofthe magazine, the extension of pins and 51 to the left in Fig. 6 and to the right inFig. 5," being suicient to support a row of bottlesv of the predetermined length, each compartment being' adapted to accommodate a single row of bottles.Y In the present machine. each row comprises four bottles, and the sizeof the compartments'is such as to give a spacing of the bottles which permits the bottles being handled to move freely into and out of the magazine beingseparated from each other to avoid breaking. f

The lmagazine is mounted atvthe center upon journal 68 supported in journal bearings`69, and the magazine arms 5 are pivotally mounted on the ends of thesejournals at the side -of the magazine, being in duplicate as best shown in Figure 5.

The operation of the magazine is further controlled biya spring positioning member shown at 10 in Figure l, the same being actuated by a spring 11l and being provided with a roller 12 which enters between each pair of the, outer row of magazine pins or bars 66 locating and positioning the magazine in each of its successive positions of 'rest to receive and discharge the botties. The row being received and the row being discharged have been identied above in connection with Figure 4. l

In the form shown, the magazine, after each discharging operation just described, contains three Vrows'of bottles, a fourthrow in advance of the row e having just been dropped toward the case.

The step by step motion of the magazine in the form of the invention shown is accomplished by means of a spring pawl 13 which is best illustrated in Figure 1. This pawl 13 is mounted on a spring controlled pawl arm 14, at the end of the said a-rm 14 seen at the right in Figure l. This pawl arm 14 is mounted on the magazine arm 5, and pivoted thereon by means of bolt 15. The arm 14 is controlled to advance the pawl 13 by a spring 14'. In accordance with the illustration the magazine moves to full step suicient to discharge one row of bottles, and to advance the magazine to the position to receive another row of bottles by a single action of the pawl. To this end, the magazine pins 66 are essentially spaced in accordance with the space required by each row 0f bottles, and the arm 5 and pawl 13 have a corresponding stroke giving a step by step motion, each step providing for the receiving and discharging of a row of bottles.

The motion of the cases will next be described.

The case conveyor 3 in the form shown is a Jeffrey chain 16 having laterally projecting ears 11 to which the case supporting plates 18 are secured by rivets or the like 19 as best shown in Figure 5.

The plates '|8 carried by the links of the upper flight of the chain carrying the cases run at their outer side edges in grooves 80 formed in, the frame of the machine and the returning plates rest at their edges on supporting angle irons 8|, the grooves 8D being formed in angle iron B2, the top wall of each groove being formed by a strip 83 secured to the upright edge of the angle iron.V The angle irons 8| and 82 ale shown in side elevation in Figure 1.

The plates 18 overlap after the manner of shingles on a roof, the motion of the top flight of the conveyor carrying the cases being opposite to the direction of overlap, the overlapping edges being indicated by reference character 84 in Figure 4. The relation of the overlap to the direction of motion avoids any tendency to break or cramp or destroy the cases as they are free to slide on the conveyor, the definite control of the same being performed by other mechanism to be'hereinafter described.

For convenience in controlling the cases as hereinafter more fully described, the top flight of the conveyor 3 is inclined upwardly in the direction of the forward motion of the cases beneath the magazine 2, the position of the case conveyor 3 beneath the magazine and its relation to the motion of the magazine being well illustrated in Figure 4.

In the form of the invention shown the case conveyor 3 is driven from the motor by way of the reducing gear I6 as already described, i. e., the chain I9, Figure 1, driven from said reducing gearv drives gear mechanism at the left of and beyond Figure 1, and the upper right in Figure 4, and beyond said ligure. The mechanism may be a pair of suitable sprockets driving chains 16, and driven from a sprocket engaging chain I9. It is non-inventive and not necessary to illustrate.

The cases are indicated by reference characters 94 and they move in a continuous line on conveyor 3, the outer end walls of the cases being normally in contact with each other. To pre- |82 in the arm 92 vent the operation of the machine in the absence of a casel a stop motion is provided as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7, the same comprising in the preferred form shown a switch lever 85 of the bell crank type pivoted on the frame at 86. This lever 85 carries on one arm 93 a gravity operated switch 81 which is preferably a mercury-switch as shown by which the circuit 5| is opened and closed as the lever is swung, the switch is being shown in the closed or operative position. Any suitable means for closing and opening the circuits under the conditions presented will sufiice. The stop motion shown also includes a roller 88 which contacts the lateral side of the case immediately adjacent the filling position. As shown, it is in contact with the rear end of the case, the forward row of compartments of which is being lled.

The roller 88 is mounted on an arm 89 pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine at |00, the roller being drawn into Contact with the case by a spring 90. The arm 89 as shown projects from a disc 9| with which it is integral, and which is centrally pivoted at |09. This disc is provided on the opposite side of the pivot from the roller 88 with a pin which engages a slot of the bell crank switch.

If there is no case in the lling position, and no case immediately to the rear of the lling position to advance the case ahead of it to fill the later rows of that case, the roller 88 will be free to move in response t0 the spring 9U, and will rotate counterclockwise opening the switch 81 so that the solenoid 52 will be deenergized and the magazine 2 cannot be operated so that no bottles can be dropped from the magazine towards the position where the case should be located.

In discussing the circuit 5|, it will be noted that this circuit is so controlled by a manually operated switch |33' that the automatic switches 81 and 50 may be shorted by a manually operated switch |04 and that it is to be supplied from a generator |85', all of which is in accordance with the usual practice.

The friction of the cases on the conveyor gives them a tendency to advance up the incline to the right in Figure 4 and to the left in Figure 1. The cases 94 are supported and held in filling position by the engagement of the case being filled or the one to the rear of it by means of the back stop indicated by 9 in Figure 4 in a general way, the back stop arms, levers or ngers being indicated by reference character 9', 9", 9'", and 9"", It is of interest that the cases which are to be filled are preferably of the compartment type, each case having compartments of the kind most commonly occurring, i. e. six rows of four compartments in each row. In the operation of the back stop, the levers 9', 9", 9"', 9" shown in plan in Figure 3 enter one into each of the compartments 94' of each row as it comes into the corresponding position in the advance of the case to and through bottle receiving position, the said stop fingers 9', etc. bearing against the transverse partitions 94" as the corresponding compartment comes in registration with the path of discharge indicated at 68' in Figure 4. The

ngers

9', 9, 9"', 9"" are gravity actuated and pivotally mounted to swing about the stud |532' which extends transversely through the ends of the said fingers remote from the forward case engaging ends |03" thereof, the stud being seated at its respective ends in ears |04 attached to bracket |65" which in turn is adjustably attached to the frame of the machine. When the cases are engaged by these back stops or positioning fingers, they have been moved up the incline to the right in Figure 4, and to the left in Figure l, and permitted to yield backwardly to a. slight degree by gravity.

The back-Stop ngers gl, gli gul, 911;:

hold these cases in a series of positions in which corresponding rows of compartments of the same case, or the preceding case are in registration with the discharge area 68 just beyond the magazine bottom supporting plate 63.

`The cases are moved forward with a step by step motion corresponding to the step by step motion of the magazine by means of step by step case advancing means |0 comprising swinging case feeding fingers |04, shown in Figure 5 in elevation looking in the direction of the case feed and shown in side elevation in Figures l and 4.

transverse to the case feed. This roller, see Figure 5, during the forward stroke of the arm 5 rolls on a track or other flat surface ||0 on the machine frame. On the backward stroke it rides up on a cam Figure 3. This cam is mounted on the machine frame by means of an arm ||5 pivoted intermediately at ||2. This cam is held normally in the path of the roller |09' by means of a spring I4, engaging the arm ||5 which extends on the opposite sides of the pivot I2 having cam ||I on one side and spring ||4 on the other. The cam beyond its cam surface proper has a sharpwardly inclined surface ||6 down which the roller |09 cam'surface By the action of said roller upon said incline the cam I I is swung outwardly about its pivot ||2 against the tendency of the spring I |4 which is not of very high tension. The

cam is thus thrown out of the path ofthe roller permitting the roller to roll upon the plate ||0 on the next forward stroke making the return stroke over the cam surface Thesupport or plate |05 is secured by bolts H1 shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, and in full lines in Figure 3 to suitable boxes on the links |08 and |08' as the plate |05 is rigidly connected there.

During the forward motion of the arm 5, the spring fingers |04 move forwardly inside a case 94 and particularly in a compartment 94' tending to engage the corresponding forward walls 94" of the compartment advancing thev caseY upwardly to the right in Figure 4. On the return or non-feeding stroke of the arms 5, the Vcam roller |09 rides on the cam surface raising the fingers |04 as a whole upwardly and causing them to clear the case until the end of thereturn stroke when the roller |09 drops back onto track ||0 shown in Figure 5. The case Ywhen released by return of the fingers; see Figure 4,

slides past the f rides backwardly and the backward motion is arrested by back-stop fingers 9', 9", 9"', 9 entering as previously described, a compartment of this case or the preceding case being in line with the bottle dropping area E8.

The cases are fed in a continuous line, each case in contact with the next. On the level portion of the conveyor they move with the conveyor until held back by the cases on the inclined portion of the conveyor, it being understood that the engagement of` the cases with the conveyor is purely frictional. As the cases reach the feeding area and approach the inclined portion of the conveyor, each case is engaged by the fingers |04 entering a compartment thereof and advanced up the incline by the length of the stroke of said Jlingers which is in excess of the spacing of the centers of the compartments, the backward motion due to the incline of the conveyor beneath the magazine being arrestedby stop fingers 9. This backward motion compensates for the variation in thickness between the intercompartment walls and the end walls, two of which are in contact giving a partition of excess thickness. 1n the preferred form of the machine there is always one of these double partitions comprising two end walls of adjacent cases between the point of engagement of fingers 9 and |04, and the point of dropping the bottles into the case. This minimizes or eliminates the variation in position of the line of compartments in receiving position which might result from the vend walls and facilitates the handling of cases in a line of cases in contact.

It is of interest that the fingers |04 are spaced backwardly from the corresponding partition 94'. so that they will have ample room to pass over two side walls which may intervene between the compartments successively engaged by these fingers.

As pointed out, there is a slight lbackward tendency of the cases when released from the fingers |04 which is arrested by the back stop or positioning fingers 9', 9", 9', 9 of the back stop or positioning member 9.

The magazine or hopper arm 5 also carries pivotally connected thereto at i9, Figures 4 and 3, a bottle dropping member |20. This bottle dropping member or carriage |20 is provided with rollers |2| which operate on. tracks or ways |22 best shown in cross section in Figure 6. The tracks |22 are supported on v the angle irons 02 previously described, the said angle irons and the tracks |22 being also shown in Figure 1. The dropping member |20 carries at its forward end a transverse supporting and dropping platey 8 mounted to slide in grooves |25, in said carriage. The dropping plate 8 is controlled and connected 'to the carriage by means of a spring |20 which encircles a rod |21 which slides in lugs `|29 and |3| on said carriage. The rod |21 is provided with a shoulder or nut |30 against which said spring |26 bears at its forward end.l The forward end of the rod orbolt |21 is secured to a lug |324 depending from the plate 8 by which the plate is yieldingly connected to the carriageso that it can yield backwardly in case the -bottles Ibecome cramped or in any way stopped front of it. This yielding of the plate 8 is provided -to prevent breakage. i Y.

It occasionally happens in the depositing of the bottles that the case which is toreceive them is.

too far advanced so that thebottles rest onl a wall 94 of the case, and do not enter thecorresponding' compartments. vIn .this connection; it will be noticed that the occurrence is n'otharms' ful as at the next forward stroke of the plate 8 which essentially precedes Vthe further motion koff the `case as alrea'dy noted the ends of the bottles `or rows of bottles are pushed 4on of the partition into the case, it being understood that the bottles in this instance will protrude below the plate 8 when it is withdrawn by the reciprocation oi the arm 5 so that the plate in advancing engages the bottles near but above their bottom ends. Also the hopper or magazine 2 will be advanced at the same time, and the corresponding pin '61 will engage the bottles near the neck thus pushing them 'off of the shoulder presented by the case and dropping them into the proper compartments.

The operation Vof the plate 3 and the Vcarriage 120 will be apparent. They reciprocate with the arm 5, and advance as the hopper or magazine 2 advances so that the plate 8 is presented in the path of the row of vbottles pushed off of the bottom of support 63. On the return stroke it is withdrawn permitting the row of bottles to `drop into the case which is positioned beneath the discharge area l68 as already pointed out, the cases being advanced step by step, the compartments being presented row by row by mea-ns `of the nngers IM and positioned by back stop positioning fingers 9.

The bottles as they are dropped are further 'guided as `by chutes |35, one for each bottle in the lateral rows. These chutes are preferably formed as shown `in Figures 2 and 6, the same being shown as constructed integrally with or attached to the bottom supporting plate 63 of the magazine, being radially disposed as to the magazine and projecting forwardly from the forward wall 64 which serves as the rear wall of the Achutes H35. These chutes terminate at a bottom 4edge |37 shown in Figure 4 immediately above the top line of the cases as fed.

The 'operation of the machine has been so fully Adescribed in connection with the description of its parts that a further review of this operation seems unnecessary, and the advantages of the machine are also fully discussed inthe Vpreamble and Ibrought out in the description.

I have thus described va machine embodying the features of my invention Vin the preferred form, the description being specic Vand in detail in order that Athe manner lof constructing, operating, and 'using vthe invention maybe fully understood; however, the specinc terms herein are used in a descriptive rather than in a'limiting sense, the machine being capable of changeof'detail and arrangement. The scope of the invention is dened in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent lis:

1. lIn a machine for -iilling` compartment cases with bottles, a magazine, means for operatingthe same Ato bring successive sets of bottles to a location of discharge for the bottles, the cases being supported in a-continuous linefof `cases in contact end to end extending forwardly into receiving relation to said discharge whereby an impulse for moving the line of cases may be passed forwardly from case to case, means for moving the cases with a step by step motion, the steps being greater than the -spacing of the centers of the compartments, said case moving means having nge'rs entering into the case compartments of a case located backwardly from said discharge and engaging inner forward walls of the same and means for disengaging the ngers from said walls, means whereby the cases approaching and beneath said discharge are given a backward tendl ency oppositely to the said motion of the cases, and stop means disposed forwardly in the direction of said motion engaging said compartment walls to limit the backward motion of the cases to position in turn the respective sets of compartments of each case while it is beneath said dis charge.

2. In a machine for lling compartment cases, having rows of compartments, a. magazine, means for operating the same to bring successive rows of bottles to a location of discharge for the bottles, means for supporting a continuous line of cases in contact end to end, said line extending in receiving relation to said discharge whereby an impulse for moving the line of cases may be passed forwardly from case to case to a case in receiving relation to said discharge, means for moving the cases with a step by step motion, the steps being greater than the spacing of the centers of the compartments, said case moving means having nngers entering into the case compartments of a case located backwardly from said receiving relation and engaging inner forward walls of the same, and means for disengaging the ngers from said compartments, the supporting means for the line of cases being inclined downwardly oppositely to the said motion of the cases giving the cases approaching and beneath said discharge a backward tendency opposite to the said motion of the cases, and stop means disposed forwardly in the direction of said motion engag ing said compartment walls to limit backward motion of the cases, in response to said tendency thereby positioning the respective rows of compartments of each case in turn beneath said discharge.

3. In a case lling machine, a magazine, means for moving the same with a step by step motion, the magazine having means for supporting the bottles and dropping them in a predetermined location, means for presenting bottles to the magazine in lines in a direction transverse to said motion, meansfor presenting cases in bottle line receiving relation to said magazine, means for positioning the magazine in bottle line receiving relation to the line of bottles, means for bringing the cases to and passing the cases in bottle receiving relation to the magazine when the magazine is in bottle receiving position, whereby the magazine at each step cuts off a predetermined line of bottles transferring it toward 'dropping position and drops a previously received line of bottles into the case, means for limiting the motion of the magazine and hence the droppingV operation to periods in which there is a case in bottle receiving relation to the magazine, said means for limiting the motion of the magazine comprising a detector to determine the position of the Cases, the means for moving the magazine having an operative and an inoperative condition and the detector having means controlled thereby for changing said magazine moving means from one condition -to the other. i

4. In a machine for lling cases with bottles, a rotary magazine adapted to receive and drop lines of bottles parallel Withits axis, a pawl arm and a pawl and a reciprocating member for operating the arm to move -the -magazine with a step by step motion said reciprocating member having means providing a `lost motion relatively to said arm sufficient to prevent driving of the magazine by said reciprocating member, means for presenting bottles to lthe magazine transversely tothe motion of the magazine, means for movingcases beneath themagazine in its direction of rotation and presenting the cases in a succession of positions in bottle receiving relation to the magazine, and detecting means in the path of the bottles and in the path of the cases to determine when a full line of bottles is presented and to determine when there is a case in bottle receiving relation to the magazine, and means controlled by said detecting means for reducing said lost motion causing the reciprocating member to operate the pawl arm.

5. In a machine for filling compartmentcases with bottles, a magazine, means for operating the same with a step by step motion comprising a reciprocating member and a pawl member, means for positioning the magazine after each reciprocating motion in a bottle dropping position, means for presenting bottles to the magazine forming lines therein transverse to the direction of the motion of the magazine, means for presenting cases to the magazine with the case compartments successively in bottle receiving relation to said dropping position comprising a conveyor moving in the direction of motion of the magazine, the conveyor being adapted to carry a line of cases thereon with their ends in contact so that the case in receiving relation to said discharge is thrust forwardly by the case behind it, the cases being free to yield backwardly on the conveyor, the portion of which adjacent to bottle discharge location is inclined to give the case a backward tendency, means for entering into the compartments of a case intermediate of the line to stop said cases in a series of positions in each of which a line of compartments therein is in bottle receiving relation to the dropping position, ngers to and engage the forward walls of the compartments and moving with a reciprocating motion corresponding to the motion of the magazine for advancing the cases to successive bottle receiving positions beneath the magazine, said ngers having operating means whereby they are freed of said compartments on the return stroke, permitting the cases to yield backwardly against the stop means, said operating means for the fingers comprising a cam mounted to yield laterally and a roller which rides up on said cam on the return stroke and at the end of said stroke deflects said campermitting the advance of the follower at a lower level which permits the entry of the finger into the compartments.

6. In a machine for filling compartment cases with bottles, a rotary substantially cylindrical magazine, means for rotating the same with a step by step motion and stopping it in a series of bottle discharging positions, the magazine having a series of bottle chambers each corresponding to one of said discharge positions, means for feeding the bottles to each chamber as it is located in a predetermined receiving po- -sition below the axis of rotation in which position another chamber is in discharge position,

means for feeding cases beneath the magazine to successive positions of rest, certain compartments being in each position of the case in receiving relation to said discharge position of the ,magazine chambers, a support for the bottles in ythe magazine separate from the magazine and to which the bottlesare fed by said feeding means, said support extending beneath the magazine and from the receiving position to the discharge position of said chambers whereby the magazine moves the bottles across the support from receiving to discharge position, a passage leading downwardly from said support at. its forward end in the direction of magazinemotion enter the compartments 5 and means timed with the magazine to control the discharge of the rows of bottles from the magazine into the cases.

7. In a case filling machine, a magazine hav'- ing chambers for bottles, means for moving the magazine to bring the chambers successively to a point of discharge, a support on which the bottles stand and to which they are fed in entering the machine, the same being separate from and beneath the magazine, and means for moving compartment cases bringing the compartments successively into receiving relation beneath the point, of discharge, a carrierlmounted to reciprocate in the direction of motion of the magazine at the point of discharge, the carrier having a plate mounted thereon to close and open the discharge to time the dropping of bottles, said plate moving on a path substantially parallel to the plane of the support.

8. In a machine for filling compartment cases with bottles, ak substantially cylindrical magazine mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, means separating the magazine into a series of chambers each adapted to hold a line of bottles parallel to the magazine axis, means for rotating the magazine with a step by step motion, the motion corresponding in extentJ to the spacing of the chambers, means for feeding the bottles to a lower chamber at the bottom of the magazine, the bottles in the magazine being substantially upright and being disposed with their necks pointed radially toward the center of the magazine, a support for the bottles in the magazine extending forwardly in the direction of the motion of the magazine from the feeding position to a point of discharge, a passage leading downwardly from the end of said support, means for feeding cases beneath the magazine into successive positions in which successive case compartments are in receiving relation to said passage.

9. In a machine for filling compartment cases with bottles, a magazine, means for rotating the same -about a substantially horizontal axis with a step by step motion, means separating the magazine into a series of chambers each adapted to hold a line of bottles, said lines being parallel to the magazine axis, said motion corresponding in extent to the size of the chambers, means for feeding the bottles to a lower chamber in substantially upright position with -their necks pointed toward the axis of the magazine, a support for the bottles in the magazine extending upwardly and forwardly in the direction of the motion of the magazine from the bottlefeed to a location of discharge, a passage leading downwardly from the end of said support remote from the feed, means for passing cases beneath the magazine into successive positions in which successive case compartments are in receiving relation to said passage, and means timed with the magazine, controlling the discharge of the rows of bottles into the cases.

10. In a case filling machine for compartment cases, a magazine, means for rotating the magazine about a substantially horizontal axis with a step by step motion, article feeding means adapted to the feeding, of bottles to the magazine in a line parallel to its axis, the magazine having chambers adapted to retain* the bottles in lines extending in said direction and the magazine being adapted to drop the successivelines of bottles at a predetermined location of discharge from said chambers, article feeding means adapted to feed cases beneath the magazine in a direction transverse tojitsaxis and in receiving relation to said discharge, means for positioning the magazine with successive chambers near the bottom of the magazine in receiving relation to the line of bottles, in each of which positions another chamber is in discharge position, means for positioning the cases in bottle receiving relation to the discharge, and means for rotating the magazine with a step by step motion, whereby the magazine at each step cuts oi a predetermined line of bottles and drops a previously received line of bottles in the case, said means comprising a pawl and a pawl arm for rotating the magazine, a reciprocating member having a lost motion connection to the said arm to reciprocate the arm, the lost motion being substantially equal to the motion of the reciprocation of the arm and serving when eiective to prevent transmission of motion from the reciprocating member to the pawl arm, means for taking up the lost motion at intervals to cause rotation of the magazine, and automatic controlling means for the lost motion take up, said automatic controlling means comprising a feeler in the path of articles fed to the machine.

l1. In a machine for filling cases with containers, a rotary element having compartments for the containers, a support beneath said rotary element on which the containers in said compartments stand in upright position, means for locating a case beneath said support, means extending beneath said element for feeding containers to the compartments of the rotary element, driving means to rotate the rotary element to move the containers across and from said support causing them to drop into the case 'andfor moving the cases to and from said location beneath the support and detector mechanism entering into the paths of the containers and the cases, respectively and connected to said driving means to control the rotation of the rotary element and the motion oi the cases to prevent rotation of the rotary element and consequent dropping of the containers and to prevent advancement of the cases in the absence of a sufcient supply of containers whereby the complete lling of each case passed through the machine is assured, and hence the number of containers in each case is determined.

12. In a machine for filling cases with containers, a plural pocketed element rotatable upon an approximately horizontal axis, means extending below the axis of said pocketed element to deliver and support containers within the respective lower pockets in turn in an upright position, means to support cases beneath the delivery and supporting means, -and means to rotate said pocketed element to cause containers received within its pockets to move from the delivery and supporting means and drop into a case.

13. In a machine for lling cases with containers, an element rotatable upon an approximately horizontal axis, said element including a series of pockets circumferentially arranged and open toward the periphery and having a lateral infeed opening, means extending below the axis of said element to deliver and support containers within the respective lower pockets in turn in upright position, means to support cases beneath the delivery and supporting means, and means to rotate said element to cause containers received within its pockets to move from the delivery and supporting means and drop into case.

ta'iners, a disc like element rotatable upon an 14. In a machine for .filling cases with con-l approximately horizontal axis, said element being provided with arms spaced cicurnferentiall'yaxis, means beneath said element and adjacent its periphery to feed and support containers along a line parallel to the arms of said element, means to support cases beneath said line and means to rotate said element to cause its arms to sweep containers from said support to drop into a case.

15. In a machine for filling compartment cases with containers, a plural pocketed element rotatable upon a horizontal axis, a conveyer extending beneath the axis of said pocketed element to deliver containers to the element pockets in an upright position, case supporting means extending beneath said poclteted element and extending upwardly in the direction of rotation of said element, means to rotate said pocketed element to cause containers received within its pockets to move from the conveyor and drop into a case, and means engaging the compartments of the cases to move them upwardly on said inclined support in synchronisrn with the rotation of said pocketed element.

16. In an apparatus for filling cases, a bottle moving element rotatable on a horizontal axis,y conveyor means moving beneath the axis of said element in a horizontal plane to place bottles in its path of rotary movement, support means of arcuate form to conform to the periphery of said rotary element to support bottles being moved by said element so that their vertical axes will extend radially of said element, means toguide bottles downwardly from said support means on a line extending substantially radially of said rotary element, and means to so support a case beneath said guide means that the walls of the case pockets will be parallel to the line along which the bottles drop.

17.' In a case iilling machine for compartment cases, a rotary magazine, means for moving the same with a step-by-step motion, means beneath the magazine for presenting bottles to the magazine in a feed line transverse to said motion forming rows ofbottles in the magazine, the said magazine having means Afor retaining the bottles in said rows, a bottle support separate from and beneath the magazine adajacent said presenting means .and adapted to support rows of bottles outl oilF from said feed line byrotation rof said magazine, said support terminating at -a dropping position for .said rows of bottles, means for moving the cases inthe direction of the magazine motion and in bottle row receiving relation to said dropping position, means for Ypositioning the magazine in `bottle receiving relation to the line of bottles, Ameans for positioning the cases with each row of compartments in turn in bottle receiving relation to the dropping position when the magazine is in bottle receiving position, whereby .the magazine Aat each step cuts off a predetermined row of bottles, moves it .along said support .and drops a `previously received row of bottles from said support.

18. In a case filling machine, a magazine., means lfor movingv the same with als-tcp by step motion, means extending beneath the magazine for presenting -bottles to the magazine in' av feed line `transverse to said motion andinuprightpositiOn, providing-rowsof bottles inthe-,magazine in :the .direction of said line, the magazine having means for retaining the bottles in a series'of rows, means for positioning the magazine at intervals', between steps, in bottle receiving relation to the feed line of bottles, a bottle support separate ,from and beneath the magazine adapted to receive the bottles in upright position, said support extending in receiving relation to said presenting means, means for positioning the cases in bottle receiving relation to the dropping position when the magazine is in bottle receiving position whereby the magazine at each step moves bottles along the support, cuts off a predetermined row of bottles from the feed line, and drops a previously received row of bottles into a case, and means controlling said case positioning means and limiting the motion of the magazine to periods in which a full line of bottles is presented thereto.

19. In a case lling machine for compartment cases, a magazine mounted to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, said magazine having means defining chambers for retaining a plurality of rows of bottles parallel to said axis, means for rotating the magazine with a stepby-step motion bringing said rows successively to `a dropping position, means for feeding bottles to the magazine in a direction substantially parallel to its axis, said feeding means having its delivery end below said axis and forming a feed line, means for positioning the magazine with each chamber successively in bottle receiving relation to the line of bottles, a support for the bottles separate from the magazine and beneath the same and extending from said feed line to said dropping position, means for positioning the cases with rows of compartments successively in ;v

bottle receiving relation to thev said dropping position whereby the magazine at each step cuts off a -predetermined row of bottles from said feed line, moves it transversely of said feed line on said support and drops a previously received row of bottles from said support. f

20. In a machine for lling cases, a member rotatable on a horizontal axis and comprising radially related and circumferentially spaced means separating the member into pockets, said pockets being open at the periphery of -said member and at one axial end of said member, means having-a point of delivery below saidv axis for feeding a line of bottles in upright position into the open end of a pocket located below said axis, plate like-means beneath said rotatable member extending from said feeding means, forwardly in the direction of rotation of the rotatable member and having a forwardly located dropping edge, said plate-like means supporting the bottles in approximately upright position in pockets of said member below said axis, and means synchronized with said rotatable member for presenting cases beneath the plate-like means, whereby each pocket of said rotatable member will in turn receive and cut loff bottles from said line of bottles on said feeding means and move them across the plate-like means to drop from the edge of the latter into a case.

2l. In a machine for filling cases with bottles, bottle presenting means, driving means operating the presenting means to advance the bottles with a step by step motion, a support for the bottles terminating in an edge intermediately 1ocated in the path of the bottles as moved by said presenting means, means for advancing cases for the bottles beneath and into alignment with said edge, and means directly connected to and moving with the case advancing means in a direction transverse to the axes of the bottles to engage the Cil,

bottles last moved downwardly from said edge to control ltheir dropping movement.'

22. In a machine for lling partition crates of the type having end walls and transverse partition Walls defining transversely extending rows of pockets said machine having means to support bottles, inclined means to support a line of crates beneath said rst named means, means to move bottles from said bottle supporting means to drop into the pockets of the crates along a predetermined substantially vertical path; pushing means` operable to engage the walls of the crates tomove them upwardly along said inclined crate supporting means and then disengage the crate walls, the crates then moving backwardly down said' inclined means when their walls are disengaged, and stop means to subsequently engage the` crate walls to limit backward movement of the crates and hold them in such position that a transverse line of pockets will be in alignment with said vertical path, the limit of upward pushing movement of said pushing means being so related to the position of said stop means as to provide sufiicient space for the aforesaid backward movement to occur. y

23. A machine for filling cases with bottles, having bottle pushing means, oscillating means operating the pushing means to advance the bottles with a step by step motion, a support for the bottles terminating in an edge intermediately located in the path of the bottles as moved by said pushing means, means for advancing cases for the bottles beneath and into alignment with said edge, and means directly connected `to and movable with said oscillating meansy in a direction'transverse to the axes of the bottles to engagethe bottles last moved downwardly from said edge to control their dropping movement.

24. In a machine for filling cases with bottles, having a bottle conveyor, a case conveyor below said bottle conveyor and extending at right angles thereto; an oscillatable member pivoted on a horizontal axis vertically spaced from and in substantial vertical alignment with the line along which the bottle conveyor moves, means to oscillate said member on its pivot, a. bottle engaging element and a case engaging element, both -of said elements being directly connected to said oscillatable-pivoted member to be actuated on the same stroke of the latter to respectively move bottles from said bottle conveyor and advance cases on said case conveyor.

25. In a machine for filling compartment cases with bottles, a bottle magazine, a bottle support beneath said magazine, a case support beneath said bottle support, a reciprocating member for moving the magazine with a step by step motion corresponding to the spacing of compartments in cases to move bottles from the bottle support to drop into cases on the case support, operating means for said member, said operating means having a lost motion connection to said member,

the lost motion being suilicient to prevent the transmission of full operative motion to said member and magazine, means to hold said operating means against lost motion with respect to said member and thereby cause said member and magazine to be given operating movement, and means in the path of articles on at least one of said supports to render said last named means eifective and thereby eliminate lost motion of said operating means.

26. In a machine for filling compartment cases with bottles, a bottle support having a dropping edge, a conveyor for feeding a line of bottles to the support forming a row of bottles on the support, a pusher moving across said support transversely to said edge formoving rows of bottles across the support'and dropping them from said edge, a reciprocating member for operating the pusher, a support for a line of cases extending beneath said bottle supportl and adapted to support cases in receiving relation beneath said dropping edge, case moving means adapted to engage and advance casesalong said case support, said case moving means being operatively connected to said reciprocating member, operating means for said reciprocating member having a lost motion connection thereto, the lost motion being sulcient to prevent the transmission of operating movement to the reciprocating member, means to hold said reciprocating member relatively to said operating means, and against said lost motion whereby a full `reciprocating motion is imparted to said reciprocating member, and a plurality of means one in the path of the cases approaching the case support and the other in the path of the bottles approaching the bottle support for controlling said holding means to render said holding means elective when there is a full line of bottles on the bottle conveyor and a full line of cases on the case conveyor.

27. In a machine for lling compartment crates having walls including end walls and transverse partition walls dening transversely extending lines of compartments, a magazine rotatable on a horizontal axis, means to present bottles beneath said magazine, a bottle support beneath said magazine and adjacent said bottle presenting means, means to move said magazine with a step by step motion to move bottles presented thereto across said bottle support, said bottle support having a discharge edge to which said magazine moves bottles and from which the bottles will drop, means inclined upwardly in the direction ol magazine motion to support a line of crates beneath said bottle support, pushing means operable in synchronism with said magazine moving means to engage the walls of the crates to move them upwardly along said crate supporting means and then disengage the crate walls, the crates moving backwardly down said inclined means when their walls are thusdisengaged, and stop means to subsequently engage the said crate walls to limit the backward movement of the crates and hold them in position with a transverse line of compartments in alignment with the line along which bottles drop from said bottle support, the limit of upward pushing movement of said pushing means being so related to the position of said stop means as to provide suiiicient space for the aforesaid backward movement to occur.

28. In a machine for filling cases with bottles, a lever pivoted on a horizontal axis, a bottle support, a case support beneath said bottle support, means to oscillate said lever, means operatively connected to said lever to advance cases on said case support, a bottle pusher operatively connected to said lever to push bottles from said bottle support to dropinto a case on said case sup-port, said bottle pushing means and case advancing means both being connected to points on said lever in approximately the same radial direction from said pivot so as to be operated to push bottles from said bottle support and advance cases on said case support on the same stroke of said lever.

29. In a machine for lling compartment cases having end walls and transverse partition walls forming transversely extending rows of bottle compartments, a support having a discharge edge from which the bottles will drop along a predetermined path, a bottle conveyor leading to the support and adapted to form a row of bottles adjacent said discharge edge, a bottle pusher for pushing rows of bottles from said edge, a case support inclined upwardly in the direction of the pusher motion and adapted to support a line of cases beneath said support, reciprocating means synchronized with the pusher motion and engaging the walls of the cases and adapted to move the cases with a step by step motion up said inclined case supporting means, said reciprocating inea-,ns alternately engaging and disengaging the case walls, the cases tending to move backward down the incline when disengaged and stop means engaging the case walls from within the compartments to limit the backward movement of kthe cases and to hold them in\such position that a transverse line of compartments will bein the path along which the bottles drop from the bottle support after each backward motion, the length of the upward movement of said reciprocating means being so related to the stop means as to provide suincient space for said backward movement to occur.

` ALLAN C. DAVIS.