An apparatus and method is disclosed for improvements in the receiving of folded cartons in a vertical manner and in a storage chute having a beam transport and reciprocating this beam in such a controlled manner so that on the forward stroke this beam is lifted to advance the cartons at a selected rate. From this horizontal chute and the reciprocated beam the cartons are delivered to a relatively horizontal delivery chute from which they are drawn one-at-a-time for erecting. Positive carton edge engagement and release is provided in a novel escapement means so that irregularly made cartons can be accommodated for delivery at a regular rate. This novel escapement insures that only one carton is engaged and pulled from the chute when engaged by the vacuum cups on the swinging suction arm of the erecting station. To insure that an adequate vacuum is present at the occasion of the initial pressing of the suction cups to the lowermost carton there is provided a vacuum assist which is terminated automatically when a determined level of vacuum in the suction system is reached.