Random case sealer with case lifter

A case sealer comprising:

• a frame;
• a top-head assembly;
• a top-head-assembly actuator operably connected to the top-head assembly and configured to move the top-head assembly relative to the frame;
• a tape cartridge supported by the top-head assembly;
• a lower drive element;
• a lower-drive-element actuator operably connected to and configured to drive the lower drive element;
• a case lifter upstream of the tape cartridge and movable relative to the lower drive element between a case-lifting position in which a portion of the case lifter is above a top surface of the lower drive element and a retracted position in which the portion of the case lifter is not above the top surface of the lower drive element, wherein when the case lifter is in the case-lifting position, the portion of the case lifter forms a ramp oriented to, as a leading end of a case is moved onto the case lifter, lift the leading end of the case such that part of a lower surface of the case is lifted above and out of contact with the lower drive element;
• a case-lifter actuator operably connected to the case lifter and configured to move the case lifter;
• a case-lifter sensor configured to detect a case beneath the top-head assembly and configured to transmit a case-detected signal responsive to detecting the case;
• and
• a controller communicatively connected to the case-lifter sensor and operably connected to the case-lifter actuator, the controller configured to, responsive to receiving the case-detected signal from the case-lifter sensor, control the case-lifter actuator to cause the case lifter to move from the case-lifting position to the retracted position such that the part of the lower surface of the case contacts the lower drive element and the lower drive element moves the case past the tape cartridge such that the tape cartridge applies tape to the case.