US3655072A

US3655072A - Carton handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3655072A
Application number: US859135A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence Giles Bateman
Original assignee: Delamere and Williams Co Ltd
Current assignee: Delamere and Williams Co Ltd
Priority date: 1969-09-18
Filing date: 1969-09-18
Publication date: 1972-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-11

Abstract

The apparatus includes a short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, and an elongated inclined supply magazine in response to a reduction in height of the stack whereby to maintain a substantially uniform supply therein to facilitate withdrawal of successive cartons and to require less frequent manual replenishment of the supply.

Description

United States Patent Bateman 1 3,655,072 [451 Apr.1l,1972

[54] CARTON HANDLING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Lawrence Giles Bateman, Toronto, On-

tario, Canada [73] Assignee: Delamere & Williams Company Limited,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Sept. 18,1969

21 Appl. No.: 859,135

[52] US. Cl ..214/8.5 A, 214/8.5 D, 221/176 [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 59/06 [58] Field of Search ..214/8.5 A, 8.5 D, 8.5 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,451,563 6/1969 Luginbuhi ..2l4/8.5 3,478,899 11/1969 Pitchford ..2l4/8.5A

\li i 3,499,199 3/1970 Mojden ..2l4/8.5 A X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 689,812 4/1953 Great Britain ..2l4/7 116,671 5/1961 U.S.S.R.

193,811 1/1965 Sweden ..214/8.5 D

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham AltorneyRobert R. Churchill [5 7] ABSTRACT The apparatus includes a short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, and an elongated inclined supply magazine in response to a reduction in height of the stack whereby to maintain a substantially uniform supply therein to facilitate withdrawal of successive cartons and to require less frequent manual replenishment of the supply.

19 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I912 SHEET 1 BF 8 L. G. Bafeman W @ZqQfi-nib ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 11 I972- 3,655,072

SHEET 2 UF 8 (D ID INVENTOR L. 6. Bafeman BY @MQAM A TTOR/VEY PATENTEDAPR 1.1 I972 3,655,072

SHEET 3 or 8 INVENTOI? L. G. Bafeman WMQLQM ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 11 m2 SHEET [1F 8 w sq ow ms,

INVENTOR L6. Ba/eman WMQM ATTORNEY PATENTEDAFR 1 1 I972 SHEET 5 OF 8 m QQ INVENTOR L. 6. Ba/eman ATTORNEY PATENTEDAP 1 1 I972 SHEET 8 OF 8 INVENTOR L. 6. Ba feman BY J KMGZMJMJ mm on mm ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 1 1 1912 mOFO-z 5mm SHEET 7 BF 8 INVENTOR L. G. Ba/eman wt mt ATTORNEY.

PATENTEDAPR 11 1972 3,655 O72 SHEET 8 UF 8 IVTOR L. G. feman By fMQZMeZ-Q A TTOR/VEY CARTON HANDLING APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to carton handling apparatus embodying an upright magazine from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn. In practice, high speed machines require that cartons be withdrawn at a rapid rate and as a result a large supply of cartons supported in an elongated vertical magazine must be used in order to avoid constant manual replenishment of cartons in the magazine. However, an elongated vertical stack has the disadvantage of excessive weight resulting in undue and variable pressure against the lowermost carton in the stack so that withdrawal of successive cartons is difficult to control.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel and improved carton handling apparatus embodying a carton magazine wherein provision is made for automatically replenishing the supply of cartons withdrawn from the magazine in a novel and superior manner.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel and improved carton magazine adapted to support a vertical stack of cartons and having a relatively small capacity so as to avoid undue pressure from the weight of the stack on the lowemiost carton and wherein provision is made for automatically depositing cartons into the magazine in response to depletion of the cartons to a predetermined level in the magazine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the carton handling apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the carton handling apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail view in cross section as taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view in cross section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating the different conditions of the apparatus at different stages of operation to be described;

FIG. 9 is a detail view in side elevation of a timer forming a part of the control mechanism as seen from the line 99 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the timer shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a carton being opened up and inserted between lugs of a conveyer during the withdrawing operation; and

FIG. 12 is a wiring diagram to be referred to.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, in general, the illustrated carton handling apparatus comprises a relatively short upright magazine 10 having a vertical stack of flat side seamed cartons 12 therein, known in the trade as knockdown cartons, successive lowermost cartons being removed by carton withdrawing means indicated generally at 14, and which includes a vertically reciprocable suction cup 15 which first separates opposed walls of a carton to open the same and then withdraws the carton from the magazine to present the same in a squared up condition between lugs 16, 17 defining pockets 19 of a conveyer 18. The apparatus further includes an elongated magazine 20 arranged at an incline and which supports a large supply of cartons on edge. The inclined magazine 20 has mechanism as indicated generally at 22 for advancing the cartons and depositing the same into the upper end of the upright magazine 10 to replenish the stack whereby to compensate for the cartons being withdrawn.

The elongated inclined magazine 20 is supported at its upper end by a pair of elongated arms 24 adjustably secured at their lower ends to a frame member 26 and at their upper ends to a tie piece 28. As herein shown, the upper ends of the arms 24 are bolted to the opposite ends of the tie piece 28. The lower end of each arm 24 is slotted as indicated at 29 to receive an adapter 30. A bolt 32 which extends through the adapter and through the slot 29 is fastened to thev frame member 26. The arm 24 is provided with a block 34 welded thereto and disposed a short distance above the upper end of the slot. A jack screw 36 threaded through the block is arranged to engage a counterbored opening in the top of the adapter 30. In operation, when it is necessary to adjust the height of the upper end of the inclined magazine 20, the upper and lower bolts may be loosened slightly and the jack screw may then be adjusted to permit lengthening or shortening of the arms 24 whereupon the bolts may again be tightened.

The inclined carton magazine 20 further includes bottom rails 38, 40 and side rails 42, 44. The side rails comprise rods secured to the upper ends of upright bars 46 which are secured at their lower ends between arms 48 laterally extended from a center rail 52 and through which a bolt 50 extends. In practice, the cartons are supported on edge on the bottom rails including the center rail 52. A carton backing weight or follower 54 is arranged to engage the back of the cartons and to follow along therewith by gravity. As herein shown, the follower 54 is provided with rollers 56 which engage the outer rails. Spaced dowels 58 which depend from the underside of the follower loosely embrace the center rail 52 to prevent lateral displacement of the weight. In operation, the follower moves by gravity down the inclined chute to maintain the cartons in close proximity as the cartons are depleted from the front of the stack.

The lower end of the inclined magazine 20 is supported by a base bracket 60 having a central rearward extension 62 to which is bolted the center rail 52. The base bracket 60 is bolted to a laterally extended support 64 which extends from an upright bracket 66 attached to and vertically adjustable with respect to the frame member 26. The bracket 60, in addition to supporting the lower or delivery end of the inclined magazine 20 also supports the carton advancing mechanism 22 which comprises a pair of spaced lower advancing belts 68 whose upper runs engage the bottom edges of the stack of cartons in the inclined magazine, and a pair of spaced upper advancing belts 70 whose lower runs engage the top edges of the stack of cartons.

As herein shown, the lower belts 68 are arranged to run over pulleys 72, 74 and are further guided by a belt support plate 76 secured to the base bracket 60. The belt support plate 76 is arranged to back up the belts along the upper run over which the cartons are advanced. The forward pulleys 72 are fast on a shaft which is connected by spur gears 82 to the output shaft of a speed reducing unit 84. The input shaft of the unit is powered by a drive motor 86 housed integrally with the speed reducing unit. The rear pulleys 74 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 75 fixed in a belt tightener member 77 adjustably carried by the base bracket 60. The member 77 is provided with an adjusting screw 79 extended through a slotted clearance opening in an upstanding lug 81 of the base bracket. The adjusting screw 79 is provided with a nut 83 to effect tensioning of the belts 68.

The upper advancing belts 70 are also arranged to run over front and rear pulleys 88, 90, respectively, the front pulleys 88 being mounted fast on a shaft 92 joumaled in a bearing bracket 94, the latter being pivotally carried by a shaft 96 joumaled in a bridge bracket 98. The bridge bracket is adjustably supported in spaced upright supports 100 attached to the base bracket 60. The rear pulleys 90 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 102 fixed in a belt tightener member 104 adjustably carried by the bracket 94 and which is provided with an adjusting screw 106 extended through a slotted clearance opening in an upstanding lug of the bearing bracket, the screw being provided with a nut 108 to effect tensioning of the belts. The upper belts 70 are further guided by a belt support plate 110 attached to the underside of the bearing bracket 94 and which defines the course of those portions of the lower runs of the belts 70 which engage the top edges of the cartons in the inclined magazine. The magazine 20 is further provided with top rails 95 for guiding the upper edges of the stack into engagement with the upper belts 70. The rails 95 are supported by the bridge bracket 98.

As herein shown, the drives to the upper belts 70 include a chain and sprocket drive 112 from the shaft 96, the chain being guided over a take-up guide 114 carried by a block 116. The block 116 is secured to a support arm 118 which is attached to the bridge bracket 98. The shaft 96 is connected by a chain and sprocket drive 120 to the output shaft 85. The drive 120 further includes an idler sprocket 122.

From the description thus far it will be seen that in operation the cartons arranged on edge on the inclined magazine 20 are engaged between the upper and lower belts 70, 68 at the delivery end of the magazine and as the cartons are advanced by the belts successive leading cartons are released by the belts to fall fanwise by gravity into the upper end of the upright magazine 10. As the cartons are released from the inclined magazine the back up weight or follower 54 rolls down the incline in engagement with the rear of the stack to advance the cartons toward the delivery end of the magazine.

As illustrated herein, the relatively short upright magazine is supported from the underside of the base bracket 60 and includes a side frame 124 bolted to the bracket 60. The side frame 124 is adjustably connected to an opposing side frame 126 by rods 128. Upright angle guides 130 L-shaped in cross section are provided, one in each corner, which are bolted to the side frames 124, 126. Bottom plates 132, 134 secured to the underside of the side frames 124, 126 and to the lower ends of the angle guides 130, respectively, are arranged to support the marginal edges of the cartons in a manner such as to permit withdrawal of successive lowermost cartons by means of the vertically reciprocable suction cups 15. It will be observed that the pulleys defining the leading ends of the lower belts 68 are set forwardly of the pulleys defining the leading ends of the upper belts 70 so that in operation the upper edges of the cartons are first released from the upper inclined delivery belts 70 whereby to permit pivotal movement of successive cartons on the lower belts 68 to fall fanwise by gravity into the magazine 10. In operation, the weight of the vertical stack of cartons in themagazine 10 remains substantially constant and applies a substantially uniform pressure on the lowermost carton in the stack so as to facilitate withdrawal of successive lowermost cartons.

Provision is made for controlling the release of cartons from the inclined magazine into the upright magazine 10 in a manner such as to start the feed into the magazine 10 when the height of the stack is reduced from a nominal height to a predetermined lower level and to continue the release of cartons from the inclined magazine for a predetermined time suf ficient to reach such nominal height whereupon the feed is discontinued.

Provision is also made for reorganizing or squaring up the stack of cartons arranged on edge in the inclined magazine 20 whereby to bring the cartons at the forward end of the stack into close proximity so as to permit a substantially uniform release of cartons when feeding is again initiated. The reorganizing operation occurs immediately after the carton feeding operation has stopped. It will be understood that withdrawal of cartons continues during the carton feeding operation so that in practice the feeding rate must be timed to supply cartons at a faster rate than that at which they are being withdrawn. During the reorganizing operation the foremost cartons in the inclined stack are brought up against movable barriers provided at the release end of the inclined magazine 20.

As herein shown, the barriers which serve to hold back the cartons in the inclined conveyer 20 comprise upper and lower horizontal bars 136, 138 which are rockingly mounted on their respective upper and lower pulley shafts 92, 80. The lower bar 138 is arranged to be rocked from a lowered position to an operative position against the front of the stack by a rack 140 which meshes with a gear 142 formed integrally with the bar as shown in FIG. 5. The rack 140 is slidingly mounted in the base bracket 60 and is connected to the stem or piston rod 145 of an air cylinder 144 also supported on the bracket 60. The rack is limited in its clockwise movement, viewing FIG. 4, by a stop screw 141 carried by the base bracket 60 which cooperates with a plate 143 attached to and movable with the rack 140. In its opposite direction the bar 138 engages a portion of the base bracket 60.

The upper bar 136 is also mounted to rock on its pulley shaft 92, and provision is further made for pivotally rocking the entire unit carrying the belt 70 upwardly out of operative engagement with the upper edges of the cartons. As herein shown, the bar 136 is bolted to one arm 146 of a rocker member 148 mounted on the shaft 92, the second arm 140 being connected by a link 152 to a connecting member 154 which is pivotally mounted at 156 in the stationary bracket 98. The member 154 is further connected by a piston stem 158 to an air cylinder 160 which is pivotally connected at its other end to a bracket 162 also attached to the bracket 98. As previously described, the bracket 94 on which the upper belts 70 are carried is pivotally mounted at 96 and, in operation, when the cylinder is actuated to rock the linkage in a direction to move the bar 136 in engagement with the front of the stack, one arm of the rocker member 148 engages a stop screw 164 carried by a plate 166 bolted to the pivoted bracket 94. Thus, continued actuation of the cylinder 160 effects upward rocking of the pivoted bracket 94 to lift the belts 70 up away from engagement with the cartons. It will be understood that in practice the bar 136 remains in engagement with the front of the stack when the belts 70 are rocked up as described. Upon squaring up of the cartons at the leading end of the inclined stack, the belts 70 are again lowered and the bars 136. 138 are rocked back to an out of the way position.

As herein shown, the pivotally mounted bracket 94 is supported by a bolt 202 which extends through a slotted opening in the bracket 94 and is threadedly engaged with the bridge bracket 98. A spring 204 coiled about the bolt 202 is interposed between the bridge bracket 98 and the bearing bracket 94 and serves to resiliently urge the upper belts 70 into engagement with the upper edges of the stack in the inclined conveyer 20. The head of the bolt 202 serves to limit the downward rocking movement of the belts. Conversely, the pivotally mounted belt supporting unit is rocked upwardly against the tension of the spring 204 during the reorganizing operation.

As herein illustrated, the control means for initiating the carton feeding or transferring operation comprises an electrical circuit 168 including a photoelectric cell 170 having a light source 172 and arranged with respect to the magazine to detect depletion of cartons from the vertical stack at a predetermined level, which may be at a point about 2 inches below a nominal height for example. In operation, when the electric eye detects such depletion, an amplified signal energized a timer unit indicated generally at 174 which includes a motor 176 having a one revolution cam shaft 178. The cam shaft 178 is provided with a cam 180 which cooperates with a normally closed microswitch 182. The cam 180 holds the switch open until the shaft 178 starts its rotation whereupon the switch 182 closes to start the motor 86 and to initiate the feed of cartons from the supply magazine 20 into the magazine 10. A second microswitch 184 cooperates with a cam 185 on the cam shaft which is arranged to open the circuit to the timer motor 176 at the end of one revolution. In operation, the feed of cartons continues for a portion of such revolution whereupon the switch 182 is opened to discontinue the feed of cartons. For the remainder of the revolution, the cartons at the delivery end of the magazine are reorganized, that is, the cartons are squared up and compacted together to correct any loosened or disorganized state whereby to provide a uniform feed to the upright magazine 10.

As herein illustrated, another cam 192 cooperates with a microswitch 193 arranged to close a circuit to a solenoid operated air valve 186. The air valve 186 is operatively connected to a source of compressed air and to the air cylinders 144, 160. The cylinders effect rocking of the bars 136, 138 into engagement with the front of the stack in the inclined magazine 20 and also effects elevation of the upper belts 70 away from the stack, as described, whereupon a normally open microswitch 198 is caused to be closed by a cam 200 on the shaft 178 to again start the motor 86 which drives the belts 68, 70. This action serves to straighten up and compact the cartons at the forward end of the stack against the bars 136, 138. The cam 200 then effects opening of the switch 198 to discontinue operation of the belts, and the cam 192 opens the circuit to the microswitch 193 to close the solenoid operated valve 186. The bars 136, 138 then return to their inoperative position and the upper belt unit is lowered into engagement with the upper edges of the stack. At this time the cam 185 effects opening of the motor control switch 814 to discontinue rotation of the cam shaft 178. In operation, cartons are being continuously withdrawn from the magazine 10, and when the height of the stack is again reduced to a point where the electric eye is again actuated, another feeding and reorganizing cycle is initiated.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the carton withdrawing means 14 is cam operated, the suction cup 15 being secured to one end of a hollow pipe 206 supported in an adapter 208 pivotally connected to a rocker arm 210. The lower end of the hollow pipe 206 is provided with a flexible pipe connection 212 leading to a source of vacuum and is also swivelly supported at the end of a rocker arm 214. The rocker arm 210 is formed integrally with a depending arm 216 pivotally mounted at 218. The depending arrn 216 is connected by a link 220 to a cam lever 222 pivotally mounted at 224. The cam lever carries a cam roller 226 which cooperates with a cam 228 mounted on a shaft 230 which may be rotated by conventional driving means.

As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11, the withdrawal of a carton 12 from the magazine occurs when the lowermost carton is engaged by a suction cup and pulled downwardly. This action separates the walls of the carton and causes the same to assume a quadrilateral shape as indicated at 12a. Continued downward movement of the suction cup 15 brings the narrower side walls of the carton into engagement with the lugs 16, 17 of the conveyer 18. This action squares up the carton as indicated at 12b with the carton open at both ends. It will be understood that in practice two suction cups 15 are employed with duplicate operating mechanisms as indicated in FIG. 3. At subsequent stations of operation along the conveyer 18, one end of the carton is closed; an article is inserted into the carton; and the other end of the carton is provided with a top closure.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the elementary wiring diagram for the control mechanism comprises the electrical circuit 168 having the timing motor 176 provided with a one revolution cam shaft 178 and arranged to be actuated upon energization of the photoelectric unit 170 when depletion of the cartons in the magazine below a predetermined level is detected. Normally closed switch 182 effects substantially immediate starting of the belt drive motor 86 and after a predetermined length of time the switch 182 is opened to discontinue the advance and release of cartons from the supply magazine 20 to the vertical magazine 10. The reorganizing operation is then commenced upon closing of switch 193 by cam 192 to energize the normally closed solenoid valve 186. During this operation the switch 198 is momentarily closed by the cam 200 whereupon the switches 193, 182 and 184 are opened to permit: closing of the solenoid valve; stopping of the belt drive motor 86 and stopping of the timing motor 176, respectively, to await another signal from the photoelectric unit 170 to repeat the operations.

In operation, a feeding cycle is initiated when the level of the stack in magazine-l0 is reduced and reaches a point where the photoelectric unit 170 is energized, such condition being indicated in FIG. 1. This starts the feed belts 68, 70 to release cartons from the magazine 20 to fall fanwise into the magazine 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 illustrates the condition just as the feed belts have stopped, showing the magazine filled to a nominal height. The condition of the operating mechanisms during the reorganizing operation is indicated in FIG. 8 wherein the barriers 136, 138 are in operative position and the belts 68, are operated momentarily to compact the foremost cartons against the barriers while the belts 70 are rocked upwardly.

From the above description it will be seen that the present invention provides novel carton handling apparatus wherein a large reserve supply or reservoir of cartons is provided and that provision is made for automatically replenishing the cartons in a vertical magazine from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn. The height of the stack in the vertical magazine may thus be made very short and varies only slightly whereby the resistance to withdrawal is reduced and remains substantially uniform so that the work of the withdrawing means is facilitated and made more consistent. The provision of a large reservoir of cartons arranged to deposit cartons into the vertical magazine when needed necessitates only periodic manual replenishment of the supply in the reservoir. It will also be observed that the stroke required of the withdrawing means is very short compared to the stroke required for withdrawing endmost cartons in an inclined stack and depositing the same in successive pockets of a horizontal conveyor.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for handling cartons, in combination, an upright magazine having a short vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, a reservoir of cartons arranged on edge adjacent said magazine, and means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons for transferring cartons from said reservoir into said magazine to replenish those withdrawn therefrom.

2. In apparatus for handling cartons, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, and means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine to replenish those withdrawn therefrom.

3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, and means for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine including means engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons comprising upper and lower driven belts for advancing and releasing successive foremost cartons to fall by gravity from an upright to a horizontal position into the upper end of said upright magazine.

4. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, a substantially horizontal magazine supporting a supply of cartons on edge, and means for transferring cartons from the supply to the upright magazine comprising means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the top and bottom edges of the cartons for advancing the cartons in the supply, and means for releasing the top edges of successive endmost cartons from the supply to fall fanwise into the upper end of said upright magazine.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, an elongated inclined magazine supporting a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for transferring cartons from the reservoir to the upright magazine comprising means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons in the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and means for controlling said transfer operation including means for engaging and disengaging the upper driven belts to maintain a substantially constant supply of cartons in said upright magazine.

6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for transferring cartons from said reservoir to said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said transfer means.

7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and'releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the detecting means includes a photoelectric cell disposed a short distance below a nominal height of said vertical stack.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means, said advancing means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the corresponding edges of the cartons at the forward end of said inclined magazine.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the advancing means further includes an electrical circuit having a motor for driving said upper and lower belts, said control means further including means for limiting the operation of said advancing means.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means further includes means for periodically barring release of cartons from the reservoir and for operating said advancing belts for a short time to reorganize in contiguous relation the group of cartons at the forward end of the reservoir whereby to maintain a uniform release during a succeeding transfer operation.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the barring means includes barriers mounted to rock into and out of engagement with the front of the reservoir of cartons.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein provision is made for lifting said upper belts out of engagement with the upper edges of the cartons during the reorganizing operation.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein die control means includes provision for effecting a reorganizing operation after each transfer operation.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein provision is made for operating the transfer means at a rate substantially faster than the rate of withdrawal from the upright magazine.

16. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, an elongated inclined ma azine supporting a reservoir of cartons on edge, a weighted ollower engaging the rear of said reservoir,

means for transferring cartons from the reservoir to the upright magazine comprising means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, means for controlling said transfer operation to maintain a substantially constant supply of cartons in said upright conveyer, and means for periodically reorganizing in contiguous relation the group of cartons at the forward end of the reservoir whereby to maintain a uniform release during a succeeding transfer operation.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the control means includes an electrical circuit having a timing motor provided with a one revolution cam shaft, a plurality of microswitches in said circuit, and cams on said shaft for cooperation with said switches to effect said transfer and reorganizing operations.

18. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means, and means operative after each transferring operation for reorganizing in contiguous relation the cartons at the forward end of the reservoir, said last named means including means for barring forward movement of the leading end of the reservoir.

19. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, said advancing means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the corresponding edges of the cartons at the forward end of said inclined magazine, the lower belts extending forwardly of said upper belts whereby the upper edges of the cartons are first released to permit pivoting of the lower edges of the cartons on the lower belts to fall forwardly into said upright magazine.

Claims

7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a relatively short upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons, means for withdrawing successive lowermost cartons from the stack, an elongated inclined magazine containing a reservoir of cartons on edge, means including upper and lower driven belts engageable with the upper and lower edges of the cartons for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, and control means including means for detecting a partial depletion of the cartons in said upright magazine, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating operation of said advancing and releasing means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the control means includes provision for effecting a reorganizing operation after each transfer operation.

16. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an upright magazine having a vertical stack of cartons from which successive lowermost cartons are withdrawn, an elongated inclined magazine supporting a reservoir of cartons on edge, a weighted follower engaging the rear of said reservoir, means for transferring cartons from the reservoir to the upright magazine comprising means for advancing and releasing successive cartons from the reservoir to fall by gravity into said upright magazine, means for controlling said transfer operation to maintain a substantially constant supply of cartons in said upright conveyer, and means for periodically reorganizing in contiguous relation the group of cartons at the forward end of the reservoir whereby to maintain a uniform release during a succeeding transfer operation.