Case unstacker and inverter

Abstract

An apparatus includes a guide with an inlet end, an outlet end and a hollow interior between inlet and outlet ends, the hollow interior sized and shaped to at least receive a stack of articles therewithin, and a device capable of conveying and advancing the stack within the hollow interior between ends of the guide. The guide may include at least one straight portion, at least one curved portion and a passageway or a hollow interior. The device may be provided with an actuator, a first component coupled to the actuator and adapted for a reciprocal movement along at least a portion of a length of the actuator, a second component, and a pivotal connection between the first component and the second component.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.