Caser unit for containers

Claim 1

In a caser cor casing upright containers, the combination comprising first conveyor means, second conveyor means formoving said containers in a column to a loading zone adjacent said first conveyor means, the container supporting plane of said second conveyor means being located below the container supporting plane of said first conveyor means, transferring means comprising a platen moveable from an initial position on one side of said second conveyor for transferring said containers from said second conveyor means to said first conveyor means, a stationary guide member mounted between said first and second conveyors on the other side of said second conveyor so that it is spaced from said platen when said platen is in said initial position and cooperative with said platen to guide said containers to said loading station, said guide member having an inclined upper surface, and means for moving said platen from said initial position across said second conveyor to move said containers over said inclined surface and onto said first conveyor means, said platen comprises an upper container engaging ledge projecting from said platen located in a horizontal plane extending through or below the centers of gravity of said containers while at said loading station and a lower container engaging ledge projecting from said platen and located below said upper ledge, said lower ledge projecting further from said platen than said upper ledge whereby said lower ledge initially solely advances said containers onto said guide member and said upper ledge engages those containers tilted by said guide member.