Abstract: The assembly for stacking articles comprises a conveyor for moving articles along a conveying path having a lifting work station, a storing work station and a stacking work station. The conveyor has an incoming end and a discharging end with a lifting mechanism for lifting an article from the conveyor at the lifting work station. A storage assembly is located along the path for storing the lifted article at a location above the path. A removing mechanism then removes the stored article and places it onto another article moving along the path at the stacking work station. The method includes lifting a package at the lifting work station and carrying it to the storage work station. Another package is then conveyed along the path beneath the first package disposed at the storage work station. The stored package is then removed from the storage work station onto the package passed therebeneath thereby stacking the stored package onto the lower package located at the stacking work station.

Abstract: A method and assembly for sealing articles incorporates a continuously moving transfer mechanism which receives the articles from an intermittent feed and feeds them to an intermittent sealing mechanism. The intermittent sealing mechanism uses an elongate sealing member or heater plate which extends over a substantial portion of the sealing mechanism. The sealing member has a plurality of separate heaters functionally associated with the plate to apply heat to the articles at a plurality of stations during dwell times while the articles move through the sealing mechanism. The sealing member or heater plate reciprocates into and out of contact with the articles during the dwell periods by a cam to effect simultaneous sealing action at the plurality of stations.

Abstract: The method provides a loose wrap on an article. A sheet of thin, flexible wrapping material is positioned around the article. A projecting flexible excess portion is formed as an outwardly projecting bubble in the wrapping material that is positioned around the article. The wrapping material is then sealed around the article while the bubble portion is maintained in the wrapping material. The apparatus comprises various mechanisms for effecting the method steps. The assembly is particularly useful in a wrapping machine. The combination used in conjunction with a wrapping machine includes a pocket mechanism for holding the article having the thin, flexible material wrapped therearound. The projecting bubble portion is formed by an assembly disposed adjacent the pocket mechanism. The pocket mechanism includes a side wall member having an indentation to receive the projecting bubble portion formed in the wrapping material.

Abstract: The wrapped combination of a cake of soap and disposable receptacle or tray for holding the soap after unwrapping of the combination. Thus, the wrapped combination provides a soap package with its own tray as a part of the package.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism including a backing roller having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a rotatably mounted cutting member having a cutting edge and a longitudinal axis of rotation disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller member. The backing roller is freely rotatably mounted about its axis of rotation. Thus, the cutting member cuts at different locations along the circumferential surface of the backing roller each time. The backing roller is resiliently mounted to float in a direction transverse to a plane extending vertically through its axis of rotation. The roller is mounted on a carrier body that is laterally movable to effect movement of the roller in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller. Unique timing belt and gear drive mechanisms are used to effect driving of the draw rollers and cutting devices. A particular guide mechanism is used to direct the tear strip from a supply to the point where it is superimposed on a web of wrapping material.

Abstract: The apparatus for transporting an article includes a conveyor and a means for driving the conveyor synchronously and intermittently at least two driving positions along a path having a plurality of work stations. The apparatus will intermittently move the article from one work station to another with the conveyor being substantially completely driven without any drive function being associated therewith. A further feature of the invention includes the vertical adjustment of the transporting mechanism with respect to a moving package to be wrapped in conjunction with a wrapping machine. Another feature is directed to the specific sprocket construction used in a closed loop means. The flat turret transporting mechanism includes a plurality of pockets for receiving packages to be wrapped between an input and an output work station.

Abstract: A method and assembly for providing a continuous supply of articles incorporate the use of an auxiliary supply operating together with a primary or main supply of articles. The main supply of articles is disposed in a stack over an article introducing position. First conveying means moves articles from the article introducing position to a subsequent working station. Second conveying means moves articles into the article introducing position immediately behind said first conveying means to insert an article beneath the stack while maintaining the total number of articles in said stack. That is, the bottommost article in the stack is simply replaced without depleting any of the articles in the stack disposed within the primary or main supply of articles.

Abstract: The closure mechanism includes means for tucking the trailing edge of a cover sheet beneath the trailing rim portion of a container at the opposed side rim portions of the container. A further mechanism is used to fold the remaining portion of the trailing edge of the cover sheet around the trailing rim portion of the container. A specific embodiment of the invention includes the use of two separate tucking elements laterally displaced with respect to each ther and a single folding element disposed therebetween. Means are provided to reciprocate the tucking and folding elements between a resting and working position.

Abstract: The conveyor assembly is used in conjunction with the packaging machine for moving articles to an article receiving station. The assembly comprises a means for moving at least one article along the path to receiving means located at an article receiving station. The moving means includes a conveyor means, stabilizing means and pushing means. The stabilizing means and pushing means are disposed on the conveyor means to travel in a forward direction for effecting controlled movement of the article along the path. The pushing means is effective to engage the following side of the article for moving the article into the receiving station. The stabilizing means is effective to engage opposing sides of the article for maintaining a predetermined alignment of the article while the article is moved into the receiving station. Other features of the invention are directed to the particular shape of the stabilizing means and its location with respect to the pushing means.