Laner for descrambling and arranging articles in single files with reduced jamming

Apparatus for descrambling a mass of articles and arranging said articles in single, parallel files on a case packing machine comprising;

• a plurality of lane dividers forming a plurality of article lanes arranged in a side-by-side manner;
• said article lanes including stationary parallel descrambling sections aligned in a direction of flow of said mass of articles for directly receiving said mass of articles, said parallel lane dividers forming said descrambling sections having a first predetermined width, tapered sections for receiving said articles from said descrambling sections which taper in the direction of conveyance of said articles including transition sections through which said articles pass for processing into parallel single files, and parallel single-file sections receiving said articles from said transition sections having a second predetermined width which corresponds generally to a lateral dimension of said articles so that said articles are arranged generally in single files in said single-file sections;
• a plurality of racking devices carried in said transition section of said lanes upstream from said single file sections;
• said racking devices projecting laterally into said transition sections of said lanes for engaging said articles as they are conveyed causing said articles to assume a generally racked configuration which reduces jamming as the articles are processed into said single files in said parallel single-file sections of said article lanes;
• said racking devices comprising a wedging mechanism which tapers outwardly toward a center of said transition section to an apex portion and then tapers away from said apex portion, said apex portion and said opposing lane divide defining a throat forming a constriction in said transition section;
• and
• an adjustable mount mounting said racking devices to said lane dividers of said article lanes at different positions along a length of said lane dividers, said mount including a mounting member carried by said racking devices at said apex portion, and cooperating mounting elements carried at intervals along said lane dividers engageable with said mounting member for attaching said racking devices at different positions along the length of said articles lanes.