Abstract: An apparatus for producing an absorbent article includes a holding tool, a female tool disposed along a machine axis, and a male tool disposed along the machine axis. The holding tool has an aperture aligned along the machine axis and means for holding a flexible sheet across the aperture. The female tool has at least one folding element extending in a direction radially away from the machine axis, and the male tool has means for holding a fluid storage element and at least one pleating blade extending in a direction radially away from the machine axis. At least two of the holding tool, female tool, and male tool are capable of relative motion along the machine axis. Further the at least one pleating blade and of the male tool and the at least one folding element of the female tool are aligned to permit manipulation of the flexible sheet about the fluid storage element.

Abstract: An improved wrapping apparatus for an ice-cream sandwich-making machine comprises an oscillating arm and cam which drives a horizontal slider plate connected to a frame, and a pusher unit connected to an air cylinder; an improved paper feeder system, including separate paper and knife drives, air compression springs, and a paper low sensor; and a hinged exit tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an absorbent article includes a holding tool, a female tool disposed along a machine axis, and a male tool disposed along the machine axis. The holding tool has an aperture aligned along the machine axis and means for holding a flexible sheet across the aperture. The female tool has at least one folding element extending in a direction radially away from the machine axis, and the male tool has means for holding a fluid storage element and at least one pleating blade extending in a direction radially away from the machine axis. At least two of the holding tool, female tool, and male tool are capable of relative motion along the machine axis. Further the at least one pleating blade and of the male tool and the at least one folding element of the female tool are aligned to permit manipulation of the flexible sheet about the fluid storage element.

Abstract: A work piece wrapping apparatus for wrapping a work piece being transported along a transporting path of the work piece is provided with: a wrapping sheet supply device that supplies the wrapping sheet onto a transporting path of the wrapping sheet intersecting the transporting path of the work piece; a delivery guide device that causes the work piece to be wrapped by pushing the wrapping sheet with the work piece; and a spreading guide provided on the periphery surface of a transit aperture of the delivery guide device, and whose center area in the transverse direction protrudes toward the rear in a transporting direction of the work piece so as to gradually spread the wrapping sheet out from a center area in the transverse direction of the work piece towards both edges thereof with the work piece advances through the transit aperture.

Abstract: A cigarette packing method and machine, whereby blanks, fed successively along a feed path inside respective feed pockets, are fed to a loading station where each blank is transferred, by a pusher and along a transfer path, to a respective packing pocket fed to the loading station along a packing path, and is folded partly, during transfer along the transfer path, to define a seat for receiving a respective wrapped group of cigarettes, and which is formed by feeding the blank and the pusher through a folding spindle located, at the loading station, between the feed path and the packing path and along the transfer path.

Abstract: Banding machine for packaging logs of stacks of folded, overlapped or interfolded sheets applies a banding web of paper or plastic film on four longitudinal sides. During motion of the web in a direction orthogonal to the drawings, a glue gun spreads a glue line the length of the web, near the lower free wing. The packaging web crosses the walls at upper and lower gaps. Pushing the compressed log in the channel, the packaging web is arranged stretched in front of the log, the log being pushed against the packaging web well beyond the gap, causing self-packaging, i.e. the log is wound for ¾ by the web, leaving two free wings with the second having glue on it. At least one of the sections includes a movable portion, which can be a rotating wall, for enlarging the gap to allow the movement of the glued zone of the web.

Abstract: In a wrapping apparatus, particularly for enclosing articles consisting of or containing groups of cigarettes in wrapper material, the articles are received in a pocketed drum in which at least one overlapped region of the wrapper material is heat scaled. Preferably opposed side seams and an end flap of the wrapper are sealed, so as substantially to complete the enclosure of the article while on the drum. Side seal heaters carried by the drum may be mounted on respective annular carriers which are rotatably displaceable to remove the heaters from contact with the articles if the drum is stopped for an extended period. End seal heaters may be pivotally mounted on the drum and operated by a cam arrangement to fold an end flap of the wrapper into an overlapped position.

Abstract: A method of packing rearms of sheets, wherein each ream is defined by sheets stacked to form a rectangular-base prism of a given height, and has two base faces defined by respective end sheets in the ream, two lateral faces perpendicular to the base faces, and two end faces. The method providing for feeding the ream along a given path in a feed direction parallel to the base faces. Placing a sheet of packing material along the path of the ream and perpendicular to the feed direction, and conveying the ream and the sheet of packing material in the feed direction through a folding spindle to fold the sheet of packing material into a U about the ream.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved package wrapping machine which produces a wrapped product having a good seal and a favorable appearance for packages of varying sizes and shapes. More particularly, these improvements are obtained by utilizing a novel film gripper having sections that are separately disengageable to release tension on lateral sections of the film web during the wrapping of smaller than average packages, thereby preventing unwanted stretching of the film so as to promote a good seal for the packaged goods and avoid the formation of unsightly film tails. Also in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a novel package pusher is utilized to convey the package to be wrapped from a package infeed location to a registration position on the package wrapping elevator.

Abstract: A food product wrapping apparatus and method, in which four sticks of food product are simultaneously molded and wrapped during each cycle of operation, using a four cavity set mold plate and four cavity wrapping machines. A shuttle plate has two sets of four cavities and is alternately moved into a dosing mold for filling of one set of cavities and thence over a respective four cavity wrapping machine. All four sticks are simultaneously pushed out of the mold cavities and thereaft through the wrapping machine cavities.

Abstract: A food product wrapping machine includes a frame having through cavities each receiving a food product stick pushed into the cavity atop a wrapper sheet. An inwardly projecting blade at each end with a clearance space causes formation of a folded flap and a pair of wings on the wrapper as a stick enters a cavity end. Folding fingers at each end of the cavity engage the wrapper wings and fold them against the stick. Inward movement of a pair of folding blades creates additional top flaps on the sheet, which are then folded down by pivotal plates to complete the wrapping process.

Abstract: A method of overwrapping packets of cigarettes is implemented utilizing a machine by which packets and respective sheets of wrapping material are fed singly and in timed succession to a folding station where each packet is directed against a central portion of the corresponding sheet and advanced together with the sheet through a tubular duct of proportions such that the sheet is constrained to fold into a U formation around the packet. To optimize the folding action, the duct is fashioned with two longer side walls of convex profile by which the two lateral portions of the sheet flattened over the main lateral faces of the respective packet are engaged and compressed only along a limited central band of their full advancing width, and caused as a result to spread gradually into uniform contact with the overwrapped surfaces, without creasing.

Abstract: A die cut and scored carton blank is formed into a carton. The carton blank is placed in a trough having a side wall and at least one retractable stop for turning upwardly elongate edge flaps of the carton blank, with the trough having two end walls for turning up end flaps of the carton blank. The partially-formed carton is then moved to a second position where it is lowered and horizontal glue strips are applied to an outer surface of an elongate edge flap. As the carton is moved toward the second position, glue strips are applied to end flaps of the carton blank. The partially-formed carton is then moved to an upper position, above the level of the trough, and into a compression chamber where side walls and end walls hold the flaps together until the glue hardens.

Abstract: An elevator package wrapping machine comprises a film gripper for initially drawing fixed lengths of film into the machine. While the film is held by the film gripper and side clamps, a package is elevated into the film such that the height of the package draws a first addition to the film drawn by the gripper, if required. Film side and rear underfolders fold the lateral edges of the film and the rear edge of the film extending from the film source under the packages, respectively. A film cutter is provided for severing the film from its source as the packages are being wrapped, and the cutter is controlled such that the timing of its operation is based on package length. By timing the operation of the film cutter to correspond to package length, a second film addition may be drawn by the rear underfolder during package wrapping, if required.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a machine for wrapping filled trays in thermoplastic film, said machine having a film folding device in which the side folding arms and back folding bar move along linear paths in synchronized motion so that the points of coincidence between the back folding bar and the side folding arms define a curve which approximates a diagonal to the tray being wrapped. This film folding device provides uniquely smooth folds on the bottom of a tray which can be readily heat sealed to produce a relatively leakproof package.

Abstract: An elevator package wrapping machine comprises a film gripper for initially drawing fixed lengths of film into the machine. While the film is held by the film gripper and side clamps, a package is elevated into the film such that the height of the package draws a first addition to the film drawn by the gripper, if required. Film side and rear underfolders fold the lateral edges of the film and the rear edge of the film extending from the film source under the packages, respectively. A film cutter is provided for severing the film from its source as the packages are being wrapped, and the cutter is controlled such that the timing of its operation is based on package length. By timing the operation of the film cutter to correspond to package length, a second film addition may be drawn by the rear underfolder during package wrapping, if required.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for packaging product in a bag of flexible packaging material wherein a bag is sleeved on an open-ended carrier from one end thereof at a first station, product is loaded in the carrier from its other end, the bag and product lengths being such that the bag has a lip all around it at its mouth projecting beyond the product, the carrier is moved to a second station, a closure panel is inserted in the carrier through its said other end at the second station, the product and panel are pushed out of the carrier through its said one end, the bag coming off the carrier surrounding the product, and the bag with the product and panel therein are moved to a number of lip folding and sealing stations for folding over and sealing of the lip to said panel.

Abstract: An ice cream sandwich wrapping apparatus includes an elevator which raises the ice cream sandwich to a wrapping position at which the wrapper extends over the top of and is draped along the sides of the ice cream sandwich, the elevator including a platform having a supporting surface for supporting the ice cream sandwich; a conveyor positioned adjacent the platform and including a conveying surface substantially coplanar with the supporting surface such that the ice cream sandwich can be pushed from the supporting surface to the conveying surface, the conveying surface including at least one recessed section open at an end thereof adjacent the platform; and a shoe movable in a direction toward and into abutment with the ice cream sandwich when the latter is on the supporting surface of the elevator, the shoe including a rear tucker for wrapping a rear buttom tuck panel of the wrapper about the ice cream sandwich as the shoe travels in the direction toward the ice cream sandwich, and a pusher fixedly connected

Abstract: Packaging machine in which the introduction of wrapping material is shaped in such a way that the material can be conveyed to the lower plunger of the packaging machine at minimal expense and over the shortest possible tong path. This object is attained in that the device for supplying the articles and the equipment for introducing the wrapping material operate toward each other in opposite directions.

Abstract: A machine having a folding channel for wrapping blanks of packaging material about substantially rectangular objects that are advanced through the folding channel by a sliding ram. The blanks are introduced across the channel in front of the object before it is moved, and movable folding means are positioned at the output of the folding channel to complete the wrapping. By providing for selective relative positioning of the blank feeder and the movable folding means in conjunction with an appropriate change in the stroke of the ram, a wide variety of object sizes are efficiently accommodated.