Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a primary wrapper for applying wrappers to individual sweets, a collating mechanism for collating the wrapped sweets into batches and a batch wrapper for overwrapping the batches of sweets. Batching is effected by pushers on a chain conveyor which advance the sweets successively, along a support, the pushers normally tilting to disengage the sweets but the disengagement of every n.sup.th pusher with its sweet being delayed, where n is the number of sweets required in a batch. The machine can be readily modified to collate the sweets into batches in which the sweets lie flat or in an erect condition as desired.

Abstract: Article feeding apparatus includes a series of equally spaced pushers for advancing along a platform a procession of sweets or the like lying flat on the platform. The platform has a downwardly extending ramp and as the sweets travel down the ramp they are turned through 90.degree. to an erect position under control of one or more restraining fingers which move in timed relationship with the pushers. A further turnover device may be provided for turning the erected sweets through a further 90.degree..

Abstract: A wrapping machine comprising an intermittently rotating wrapping wheel having individual pockets for receiving in succession an article to be wrapped and a wrapper, the wrapping wheel being operative during its rotation to fold the wrappers partially around the articles and to bring the pockets, each containing a partially wrapped article, in succession to a transfer station, and a continuously moving conveyor carrying a series of pushers, said pushers being arranged to move through the pockets of the wrapping wheel in succession as they reach and while they are stationary at the transfer station, to withdraw the partially wrapped articles from the pockets and traverse them in succession through a final wrapping station at which the wrap is completed.

Abstract: A wrapping machine having feed rollers for introducing a web of wrapping material into a wrapping mechanism and including a reel changing device comprising a support mounted on the machine frame, mountings on the support for two reels of wrapping material, guiding means on the support for guiding the webs from the two reels to respective separate draw-off points, the support being movable with respect to the machine frame between alternative positions, in one of which the draw-off point of one web is close to the feed rollers and in the other of which the draw-off point of the other web is close to the feed rollers, and means for locking the support to the machine frame in each of its two alternative positions, the mountings for the reels and the guiding means for the reels being so disposed that, when one reel is feeding wrapping material, a replacement reel placed on the other mounting is accessible to enable the web thereon to be fed through its guiding means to its draw-off point.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of lollipops or like sweets directly from a rope of toffee or the like which briefly comprises feeding the toffee rope into register with successive pockets of a forming conveyor for a leading portion of the rope to be severed and received by each pocket in turn to form an individual sweet, sticks being inserted successively into the sweets thus formed to complete the individual lollipops. An object of the invention is to ensure that the positional relationship between the stick and the sweet is accurately maintained during the various steps in the formation of the lollipop. This object is achieved according to the invention by resiliently nipping each stick against a guiding surface at each stage in the formation of the lollipop from the stick-inserting position to the delivery of the completed lollipop.