Case centering device

A case centering apparatus for ensuring that each case being fed from a line of cases is positioned at a predetermined centered location relative to an article handling machine, each case having a front and rear wall joined by side walls, defining corners of said case, conveyor means delivering said cases longitudinally in sequence to adjacent said article handling machine, and means for stopping the leading case adjacent said case centering apparatus, said case centering apparatus comprising:

• a pair of arms carried adjacent one side of said case and extending outwardly from a phantom line which is in alignment with the desired longitudinal center of a case when located at said predetermined centered location,
• inclined surface means carried on the outer ends of said arms for projecting beyond said front and rear walls of said case,
• said surfaces being inclined relative to a side wall of said case,
• a guide rail carried adjacent a side wall of said leading case opposite from the side that said pair of arms are located,
• means for shifting said pair of arms laterally relative to said leading case wherein said inclined surfaces engage said front and rear corners on the same side of said case laterally and longitudinally shifting said leading case and longitudinally centering said case on said phantom line,
• said means for shifting said pair of arms laterally also causes said inclined surfaces to shift said leading case laterally into engagement with said guide rail.

An apparatus for centering cases of different lengths below an article loading machine so that articles carried above said case can be deposited in said case, said case having front and rear walls joined by side walls, said case having corners at the junctions of said side walls and said front and rear walls, said apparatus comprising:

• means for feeding said case longitudinally to said article loading machine and to a position below said articles to be deposited,
• stop means arresting said case at a first position below said loading machine,
• guide arm means carried adjacent one side of said case when said case is in said first position,
• said guide arm means including a pair of longitudinally spaced inclined surfaces with each surface provided for engaging one of said corners,
• said inclined surfaces being inclined relative to a side wall of said case,
• a guide rail carried adjacent a side wall of said case opposite from the side that said pair of inclined surfaces are located,
• means for moving said pair of inclined surfaces laterally toward the case to engage with said surfaces said case on the corner adjacent said front wall and side wall and on the corner adjacent said rear wall and said side wall laterally and longitudinally shifting said case from said first position to a position wherein said case is longitudinally centered relative to said articles carried on said article loading machine, said movement accommodating cases of different lengths,
• said means for shifting said pair of arms laterally also causes said inclined surfaces to shift said leading case laterally into engagement with said guide rail.