Abstract: Described herein is a shuttle device for producing wrappers of sheet material (F) containing a product (P) with at least one fantail-twisted end obtained by twisting said sheet material (F). The shuttle (10) comprises a first part (112a, 112b) for receiving the product (P) located in the precursor of wrapper and at least one second part (212a, 212b; 312a, 312b) that grips on a respective part of precursor of wrapper (F). The first part (112a, 112b) and the second part (212a, 212b; 312a, 312b) of the shuttle (10) are able to turn with respect to one another about a given axis (X10) so as to produce at least one fantail-twisted end as a result of the twisting action imparted on the precursor of wrapper (F) following upon the relative movement of rotation about the aforesaid given axis (X10).

Abstract: Device for packaging items, in particular confectionery, such as for example lollipops, comprising a packaging conveyor having a series of holders rotating along a movement path for holding each item and its associated packaging sheet securely during conveying, a feed station for feeding the items and the packaging sheets to the packaging conveyor and a discharge station for discharging the items packaged on the conveyor, the packaging conveyor being provided with means for closing the packaging sheet on the respective item and with a series of heat-sealing means co-rotating with the holders for heat-sealing the closed packaging by supplying heat, each of the heat-sealing means comprising a sheet gripper which is provided with a heating body, the device furthermore comprising means for heating each heating body and means for controlling the heating means, the control means being designed for controlling the heating means for each heating body.

Abstract: In a device for closing side ends of packages enclosing only one roll or one row of rolls in an automatic packaging machine, operating apparatus are connected to the machine packaging line. A package, partially wrapped by a sheet, is fed to the packaging line in a forward direction, so that only the outer cylindrical surface of the package is touched by the operating apparatus. The operating apparatus translate and rotate the package about an axis, in the forward direction, so that edges of the sheet wrapping the package, during transferring along said packaging line, hit edges of stationary folding apparatus situated beside the packaging line, and become twisted.

Abstract: A modular apparatus is provided for the purpose of packaging an article in a special wrap (such as a single or double twist wrap, an envelope wrap, a bunch wrap, or other special wrap). The modular apparatus has a receiving portion, arranged to receive a partially-wrapped article (such as a tube-wrapped article) into a predetermined location, from another machine, and a special-wrap assembly that forms the desired special wrap. For a double twist-wrap, the special-wrap assembly has rotatable twist grippers that grip the ends of the tube-wrapped article, and twist the ends to form a twist-wrapped article, and includes a twist-wrap drum and Geneva wheels that drive the twist grippers. The modular apparatus is used with a flow-wrap packaging line for wrapping a series of individual articles, which has a first section, in which a film is formed into a tubular wrap about the articles, and a cut-and-seal section, in which the tubular wrap is cut between each two successive articles.

Abstract: A modular apparatus is provided for the purpose of packaging an article in a special wrap (such as a single or double twist wrap, an envelope wrap, a bunch wrap, or other special wrap). The modular apparatus has a receiving portion, arranged to receive a partially-wrapped article (such as a tube-wrapped article) into a predetermined location, from another machine, and a special-wrap assembly that forms the desired special wrap. For a double twist-wrap, the special-wrap assembly has rotatable twist grippers that grip the ends of the tube-wrapped article, and twist the ends to form a twist-wrapped article, and includes a twist-wrap drum and Geneva wheels that drive the twist grippers. The modular apparatus is used with a flow-wrap packaging line for wrapping a series of individual articles, which has a first section, in which a film is formed into a tubular wrap about the articles, and a cut-and-seal section, in which the tubular wrap is cut between each two successive articles.

Abstract: A feeder for the gripper head of wrapping machines for small- and medium-size products, comprising: a disk, which substantially lies horizontally and rotates about a vertical axis; recesses for receiving a respective product, which are distributed all around the disk, are spoon-shaped and have a slot which is open towards the outside of the disk and can be crossed substantially along a plane that passes through the vertical axis; an extractor which cooperates, in a transfer station which corresponds to one of said recesses and to a gripper, with a corresponding complementary element and with a device for dispensing a piece of material in sheet form and is suitable to intersect and pass beyond the recess with an active stroke in the vertical plane, passing through the slot in an upward and outward direction so that the product and the material in sheet form are secured against the complementary element and so that by means of the complementary element the product and the material are inserted in the gripper, w

Abstract: A unit for combing wrapped chocolates, wherein a combing drum, rotating continuously about a respective axis, has a number of combing devices, each of which has a gripping device rotating, crosswise to the aforementioned axis, between a radial gripping position to grip a chocolate, and an axial release position located along an axial path parallel to the aforementioned axis and along which travel a pusher and a counter-pusher; the path extending through an annular combing element.

Abstract: A method of continuously wrapping products, whereby sheets of wrapping material, as they are fed continuously and together with respective products along a first path, an instantaneous tangent of which extends in a first direction possibly varying from one point to another along the first path, are engaged by respective folding tools fed continuously and cyclically along a second closed path to perform a folding operation of a respective sheet at each cycle; each tool being imparted, in the course of each folding operation, at least a first movement in a second direction substantially crosswise, at each instant, to the first direction, and at least a second movement in the first direction.

Abstract: A method of wrapping generally spherical objects (16), for example, lettuces, includes placing a thermoplastic film on a work surface (14) which includes a downwardly movable support member (17) on to which the object (16) is placed. A displacement member (21) is then moved into engagement with the object (16) so as to displace the object (16) and the film downwardly through the central opening of an iris diaphragm (20). After the displacement member (21) has moved a predetermined distance downwardly, it is retracted upwardly and the iris diaphragm (20) is then closed. The object (16) is then rotated to gather the film around it. The displacement member (21) also comprises a heater head (22) which is then moved downwardly to contact the portions of the film projecting upwardly through the diaphragm (20) to fuse them together.

Abstract: A twist-wrapping machine comprising an aligner for aligning candies in compartments of a rotary disk, a takeout means having a pushup member adapted to pass through the compartments and take out the candy in an upward direction, a paper feeder which supplies wrapping paper on top of the candy so taken out, a fork means adapted to grip the candy and accompanying wrapping paper, a twister which twists open ends of the wrapping paper and a discharge means which ejects the twist-wrapped candy.

Abstract: An operating unit, wherein a feed device with a number of transportation heads for respective products successively feeds the products along a curved path through an operating station where each product is engaged by a tool for performing a given operation on the product. The tool is fitted to a toolholder device by which it is fed through the operating station simultaneously with a respective product and along the same curved path along which the product travels.

Abstract: The machine comprises essentially a substantially belt-like endless conveyor provided with plates having cells to which the bodies to be wrapped are supplied individually. The cells with the bodies housed therein are covered by a wrapping sheet which is supplied continuously and is subsequently cut to form an individual wrapping sheet portion for each body. The unit constituted by each body and its respective wrapping sheet portion is turned over and transferred by a thrusting action exerted on the body to a drum provided with gripping jaws and associated folding members. An intermediate, generally tubular wrapper with two end parts and a central part in which the body is situated is thus formed. The two end parts are acted on by rotary pincers provided with pairs of clamping fingers for forming bow-like twists in the ends.The preferred application is for wrapping food products such as sweets and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for the sequential supply of sweets or like articles to a continuously moving packing machine or apparatus of the type designed to convey the articles to be wrapped along a wrapping path or line having a mixed course comprising at least one horizontal rectilinear line. This supply apparatus is of the type having a construction with superimposed wheels which rotate coaxially with a continuous movement about a vertical axis, comprising a first upper plate wheel designed to receive the articles in bulk and to supply them in single file via a spiral duct to the periphery of a second lower disc wheel provided peripherally with a plurality of apertures which are equally spaced, below each of which are provided means having gripper members for the take up of the articles associated with a lower third wheel such that they are radially slidable and may be oriented about a respective vertical axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously wrapping sweets or like products in a so-called double twist wrapper, comprising a rotary wheel which moves continuously about a horizontal axis, a plurality of handling devices having oscillating heads mounted to be radially slidable at a uniform spacing on the rotary wheel, with the axis of oscillation of the said oscillating head parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary wheel, and means having gripper take up elements and hoe-shaped folding elements supported by the said head so as to oscillate about respective axes parallel to the axis of oscillation of the oscillating head and the axis of rotation of the said rotary wheel. The said handling device support wheel has provided coaxially rotatable therewith and on its opposite sides two wheels supporting a corresponding respective plurality of twisting devices in mirror symmetry on the opposite sides of the above-mentioned means having gripper take up elements and folding elements supported by the said head.

Abstract: A handling device for packing machines in particular for sweets and similar products, having one or more continuously moving rotary wheels, comprising a support body which may be associated in a radially slideable manner with the said wheel or wheels having a predetermined number, a body having a head mounted to oscillate at the radially outermost end of the said support body about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the said wheel(s), operating means supported by the said headed body so as to be able to oscillate about axes parallel to the axis of rotation of the said oscillating headed body, and control means causing the said support body to slide radially with respect to the rotary wheel which supports it and causing the said head and the said operating means to oscillate so as to bring these latter means to operate with a continuous movement along a path having sections with a mixed course and to maintain them in constant orientation along and relative to these path sections.

Abstract: A system for wrapping and sealing objects, such as fresh heads of lettuce, may include two fabric tube type iris valves which are capable of fully closing and opening up to a diameter greater than the object to be wrapped and sealed. The two iris valves may be mounted one above the other; then a sheet of plastic wrap film material is dispensed over the top iris valve, and a head of lettuce is set in place on the sheet of plastic. The sheet of plastic may be dispensed from a roll automatically and may be cut either mechanically or by a hot wire, for example. The upper iris valve is open end, and then, as the head of lettuce or other object slides through and is supported by the lower iris valve, the upper valve is at least substantially closed, rotating and drawing together the edges of the plastic wrap. The plastic sheet material is then heat sealed above the head of lettuce, either above or below the upper iris valve.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing individually wrapped confections in centrifugal molds by inserting a wrapper material into the mold, introducing a portion of flowable confectionery mass into the upwardly open wrapper and then rotating the mold to distribute the confection over the bottom and sides of the wrapper, setting the mass, filling the hollow case of confection thus formed and then sealing the projecting edges of wrapper material and removing from the mold.

Abstract: A method of packaging bite-size pieces of a cheese product which includes heating the ingredients to a molten state with mixing, and then cooling and extruding the product under pressure in a continuous bar or rope at about 40.degree. to 60.degree.F. Thereafter subjecting it to shock cooling in a tunnel having a temperature in the range -100.degree. to 0.degree.F., by rapidly moving the bar through the tunnel so that it exits at a temperature in the range of 10.degree. to 30.degree.F. The bar is finally cut into bite-size pieces and individually packaged for the consumer at a rate of several hundred per minute.BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe subject invention is directed toward the art of food processing and, more particularly, to an improved method for preparing and wrapping a cheese product in bite-size pieces using a conventional high-speed cutting and wrapping machine of the type used to wrap candy kisses.

Abstract: A package for transporting live fish consisting of a pliable, open-mouthed bag having an elastic band secured around its mouth and partially gathering said mouth, and the mode of use of said package consisting of filling the bag partially with water and fish, twisting the sack intermediate the water and the open mouth to form a seal, and everting the portion of the bag between its mouth and the twist around the portion thereof containing water and fish. An open, buoyant ring may be secured in the sack mouth by the elastic band to float the bag in an aquarium to acclimate the fish to the water temperature of the aquarium.