CD packaging system and method including a case-feeding unit a unit for individually feeding brochures to a pickup station and an apparatus for packaging compact discs into respective cases

A method for automatically feeding cases into an automatic apparatus for packaging manufactured articles into cases, said method comprising the following steps:

• introducing into a feeding magazine by a transferring mechanism a plurality of cases disposed in the form of a stack and extending vertically in the magazine;
• individually removing the cases from the bottom of said stack;
• arranging a new case stack on a base platform positioned in front of an entrance side of said feeding magazine;
• automatically retracting said transferring mechanism to its initialized portion when the new case stack is inserted into the feeding magazine;
• horizontally displaying said new case stack through said entrance side so as to introduce said new case stack into said feeding magazine when the height of said stack in said feeding magazine falls below a predetermined level in a position such that the horizontal plate of a lowermost case in said stack remains substantially unchanged.

A case-feeding unit for use in conjunction with an automatic apparatus for packaging manufactured articles into cases, the case-feeding unit comprising:

• a feeding magazine having vertical holding walls and arranged to house a plurality of cases disposed vertically in the form of a stack;
• case separation means positioned adjacent to a lower end of the feeding magazine for removing a single case from said stack;
• a base platform adapted to receive a new case stack of a predetermined height;
• transferring means operating adjacent to said base platform for introducing the new case stack into the feeding magazine by horizontally moving said new case stack through an entrance side of said magazine defined between said holding walls, said transferring means comprising at least one vertically extending pusher member having a height at least substantially equal to the predetermined height of said new case stack and selectively movable between a first position, wherein said pusher member is spaced away from said entrance side of said feeding magazine, and a second position, wherein said pusher member is disposed adjacent to said entrance side to abut and move said new case stack into said feeding magazine, and wherein said pusher member is fastened to a movement arm pivotally mounted about a vertical support member and movable upon activation of at least one fluid-operated actuator;
• and
• sensor means associated with said feeding magazine for actuating said transferring means when the height of said stack in said magazine falls below a predetermined level.

A case-feeding unit for use in conjunction with an automatic apparatus for packaging manufactured articles into cases, the case-feeding unit comprising:

• a feeding magazine having vertical holding walls and arranged to house a plurality of cases disposed vertically in the form of a stack;
• case separation means positioned adjacent to a lower end of the feeding magazine for removing a single case from said stack;
• a base platform adapted to receive a new case stack of a predetermined height;
• transferring means operating adjacent to said base platform for introducing the new case stack into the feeding magazine by horizontally moving said new case stack through an entrance side of said magazine defined between said holding walls, said transferring means comprising at least one vertically extending pusher member having a height at least substantially equal to the predetermined height of said new case stack and selectively movable between a first position, wherein said pusher member is spaced away from said entrance side of said feeding magazine, and a second position, wherein said pusher member is disposed adjacent to said entrance side to abut and move said new case stack into said feeding magazine, and wherein said pusher member comprises at least one central support bar and a plurality of contact rollers rotatably engaged along said central support bar in a mutually superposed relation;
• and
• sensor means associated with said feeding magazine for actuating said transferring means when the height of said stack in magazine falls below a predetermined level.