US Patent 7367445 Horizontal ratcheting case feeder mechanism

A case feeder mechanism, used in quantities of two or more in a horizontal magazine, feeds cases to a removal position at the discharge end of the magazine, for extracting and processing by a case erecting machine. Each mechanism has two U-shaped channels, a sliding ratchet pawl channel and a fixed ratchet pawl channel, each containing a row of ratchet pawls. Each sliding ratchet pawl channel pushes the ratchet pawls against the back of the case group, driving the group towards the removal position. Individual sensing valves determine when the lead case is in the removal position and control each sliding ratchet pawl channel independently. Each fixed ratchet pawl channel holds the ratchet pawls in position, supporting the case group during resetting of the sliding ratchet pawl channel. To reload, cases are simply inserted, preferably in bundles, behind the existing case group.