Transfer of cartridges containing flat articles

A cartridge handling assembly for inserting or extracting a cartridge from a compartment which holds and secures the cartridge within an article processing machine that loads one or more flat articles into a front end of the cartridge when the cartridge is secured within the compartment comprising:

• a support platform;
• a motor:
• a first end effector movably attached to the support platform and driven by the motor, the first end effector having an extended position for activation of a lever within the compartment that causes a sweep gate within the compartment to close such that the flat articles are pushed into the cartridge by the sweep gate during extraction of the cartridge:
• and
• a second end effector movably attached to the support platform and driven by the motor, the second end effector supporting the cartridge during extraction and insertion and having an extended position for insertion of the cartridge into the compartment of the article processing machine and a retracted position for extraction of the cartridge from the compartment of the article processing machine.

An apparatus for inserting a cartridge to or extracting the cartridge from a compartment which holds and secures the cartridge within an article processing machine that loads one or more flat articles into a front end of the cartridge when the cartridge is secured within the compartment comprising:

• a carriage handling assembly comprising;
• a support platform;
• a motor;
• a first end effector movably attached to the support platform and driven by the motor, the first end effector having an extended position for activation of a lever within the compartment that causes a sweep gate within the compartment to close such that the flat articles are pushed into the cartridge by the sweep gate during extraction of the cartridge, and
• a second end effector movably attached to the support platform and driven by the motor, the second end effector supporting the cartridge during extraction and insertion and having an extended position for insertion of the cartridge into the compartment of the article processing machine and a retracted position for extraction of the cartridge from the compartment of the article processing machine;
• and
• a vertical column mounted for linear movement along the article processing machine, the carriage assembly movably connected to the vertical column for movement thereof horizontally and vertically.

A cartridge transfer unit for inserting or extracting a cartridge from a compartment which holds and secures the cartridge within an article processing machine that loads one or more flat articles into a front end of the cartridge when the cartridge is secured within the compartment comprising;

• a support platform;
• means movably attached to the support platform for activation of a lever within the compartment that causes a sweep gate within the compartment to close such that the flat articles are pushed into the cartridge by the sweep gate during extraction of the cartridge;
• and
• means movably attached to the support platform for supporting the cartridge during extraction and insertion, inserting the cartridge into the compartment of the article processing machine, and extracting the cartridge from the compartment of the article processing machine;
• and
• means for rotatably supporting and moving the support platform about a horizontal axis.