is furnished by support rollers 82 positioned on structure 1 limit and control switch 81 is tied into the central control as mentioned hereinabove for the driving motor 78 in this embodiment i attain improved operation of pusher plate 70 by introducing an air assist cylinder 83 mounted on travel carriage 80a with an air operated piston and rod 84 operatively connected to swivelling member 71 through fastening plate 85 an air supply not shown is fed to air ports 86 on opposite ends of cylinder 83 through air ports 86 and controlled by three way valves 87 the action of the air cylinder has the effect of smoothing the action of chain 72 on plate 70 and avoiding slamming stripper plate 34 g 34 serves to assist in depositing the layers of packages upon elevator platform 5 after they are discharged by sweep 34 d 34 this component forms a part of the main elevator structure 90 which is basically a part of the machine structure 1 its principal element is a flat preciprocating aluminum plate 91 positioned on a pair of racks 92 driven by pinions 93 through geared head motor 94 and drive shaft 95 rollers 96 support the travel of plate 91 in slides 98 against stops 97 plate 91 is positioned at the discharge end of conveyor 4 during the formation of the layer of packages 7 upon it after the discharge of the layer by sweep upon plate 34 g 34 the latter is retracted and causes the packages to drop upon the.