Abstract: A machine and method for wrapping cylindrical workpieces such as rolls of bathroom tissue and paper towel. The machine includes a workpiece infeed conveyor, a wrapping film feeder, a rotating carousel having a plurality of pockets, an oscillating exit conveyor, a discharge conveyor, and a sealing conveyor. A piece of wrapping film supplied by the wrapping film feeder is perforated and burst into a single sheet. The film sheet and a workpiece are directed into a pocket in the rotating carousel whereby the sheet is banded around the periphery of the workpiece by a clamping plate, underfolder plate, and brush secured by heat sealing the film sheet to itself. The banded workpieces are ejected from the rotating carousel onto an exit conveyor which passes the workpieces to a discharge conveyor which in turn conveys the workpieces through a sealing conveyor. Folding mechanisms for folding the wrapping film sheet extending beyond the ends of the workpieces are disclosed. The method of wrapping is also disclosed.

Abstract: An infeed conveyor for a packaging machine having a first squeezer conveyor including upper and lower belts spaced to receive workpieces in an end-to-end relationship. Upper speed-up rollers and lower speed-up rollers advance the workpieces further along the path of the first squeezer conveyor. A second conveyor being provided for receiving the workpieces from the speed-up rollers. A third conveyor being positioned above the second conveyor and operating at a lower rate of speed whereby when an upper leading edge of a workpiece engages with the third conveyor, the workpiece is rotated approximately ninety-degrees from its previous orientation. Flight bars rotate with the second conveyor at a rate faster than the second conveyor thereby bunching the workpieces into abutting groups of a predetermined size for entry into a packaging machine.

Abstract: A machine and process for wrapping workpieces, typically napkins. The machine having an infeed conveyor from which workpieces are feed to a poly film supply apparatus, via a conveyor assembly, that distributes a predetermined portion of the poly film supply apparatus around the workpieces to form a horizontally disposed U having a first tail and a second tail of poly film wrap. The conveyor assembly has two conveyor belts that are arranged so that the end of the first conveyor belt meets an end of the second conveyor belt. The second conveyor belt is mounted on a pulley system that allows the end of the second conveyor belt to move away from the end of the first conveyor belt after the workpieces have transferred to the second conveyor belt so that a gap between the two belts is presented. A folder folds down the first tail of poly film wrap. A second folder and a sealer bar come up through the gap and fold up the second tail against the first and seal it in place.

Abstract: An infeed conveyor for a packaging machine holds a first squeezer conveyor having upper and lower belts spaced to receive workpiece rolls in an end to end relationship between them. The lower accelerating rollers and the upper accelerating rollers advancing the workpiece rolls further along the path of the first squeezer conveyor. At least one upper accelerating roller having a drive for driving it at a higher speed than the other accelerating rollers. A second conveyor being provided for receiving the workpiece rolls. The receiving end of the second conveyor either being at or below the level of the lower accelerating roller. When the receiving end of the second conveyor is below the level of the lower accelerating rollers the workpieces are rotated 90 degrees away from their original endwise advance by the action of the upper accelerating roller that has a drive for driving it at a higher speed than the other accelerating rollers.

Abstract: A stacking packaging machine and a process for stacking and packaging resilient workpieces. The workpieces are usually rolled paper products. The machine is comprised of an input conveyor, an elevator, cams, workpiece holders, a packaging film feeder and an output conveyor. A first group of workpieces is placed upon the elevator by the input conveyor and the elevator is lowered. The workpiece holders are brought into place. A second group of workpieces are fed into the holders and held above the first group. The elevator begins to rise and the second group of workpieces are released. The stacked workpieces rise on the elevator toward the output conveyor. Packaging film is fed over the stacked workpieces. The film drapes over the workpieces as they rise preventing any workpieces from falling off the stack. The workpieces enter the output conveyor and are moved to final processing. The timing of the whole sequence is controlled by the cams.