Packaging apparatus

In a packaging apparatus for filling and closing generally rectangular cartons of the type having first and second end panels interconnected by first and second side panels and closure flaps on at least one end of some of the panels, the packaging apparatus having a filling station and material dispensing means at the filling station, first and second lateral carton guides spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the carton end panels to receive the rectangular cartons therebetween and guide the cartons for movement along a linear path past the filling station with the side panels of the carton disposed crosswise of said path, conveyor means for advancing the cartons in step fashion along said path between the lateral carton guides, the improvement wherein the conveyor means includes upper and lower elongated carrier members each having a plurality of transverse pusher fingers rigid with the carrier member at spaced locations therealong, the upper and lower carrier members extending parallel to the first lateral carton guide and the pusher fingers on the upper and lower carrier members extending generally horizontally respectively above and below the first lateral carton guide in a direction crosswise of said path, first and second carrier drives spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of said carrier member, the first and second carrier drives each including an upper set of four sprockets arranged in a rectangular pattern and a lower set of four sprockets arranged in a rectangular pattern and upper and lower endless chains respectively entrained about the upper and lower sets of sprockets, first and second upper connector means rotatably connecting the upper carrier member to the upper endless chains on the first and second carrier drives and first and second lower connector means rotatably connecting the lower carrier member to the lower endless chains on the first and second carrier drives, means for driving the chains on the first and second carrier drives in one direction and at the same speed, the sprockets of each set being arranged in a generally horizontal plane and in relation to said first lateral carton guide such that the chains, when driven in said one direction, move each of the upper and lower carrier members in a closed loop course of generally rectangular configuration with rounded corners, each closed loop course having inward and outward runs extending respectively toward and away from said path and forward and return runs extending generally lengthwise of said path, the pusher fingers on the upper and lower carrier members having a length sufficient to span the space between the first and second lateral carton guides on the forward run and being retracted out of said path on the return run.