OPTIMUM CARTON HOLD-DOWN ELEMENT FOR ROTARY FEEDERS

A hold-down element (40) for a ro- tary feeder has a curved elongated member for continuously contacting an article during rotation of a rotary head (20). The curva- ture of the hold-down element is selected so that the distance from the elongated mem- ber to the rotary head increases from the point of initial contact to the final contact point on the elongated member. The hold- down element preferably maintains contact for at least 20.degree. of rotation of the rotary head, and thus maintains contact with the article for an extended period of time. The hold-down element is attached to a vacuum shaft (48) on the rotary head, and is pre- vented from rotating relative to the vacuum shaft by a keyway (43) on the hold-down el- ement and a key on the vacuum shaft. The hold-down element, however, is permitted to travel transversely along a longitudinal axis of the vacuum shaft in order to accom- modate different shaped articles.