Abstract: The invention relates to the reciprocating folders (6) used in packaging machines, packing machines and the like, particularly in cellophane wrapping machines, for folding on one side (103) of an article (3) to be packaged an edge (104) of a sheet (4) or slip of wrapping material, particularly of a material which is not much rigid and/or is easily charged with static electricity. According to the invention, for preventing the folder (6) from dragging along, during its return stroke, the folded edge (104) of the sheet (4) or slip, one or more blowing nozzles (9,109) are provided, and are oriented and arranged in such a manner that an air layer is generated between the folder (6) and the folded edge (104) of the sheet (4) or slip.

Abstract: A machine for packing articles supplied in a uniformly spaced manner by means of a continuously moving conveyor with a web which is progressively cut from a roll of heat-shrinkable material and projects from two lateral faces of the articles and brought in sequence by suction feed means along the respective longitudinal edges across the feed path between individual successive articles so as to be folded over the front, upper, lower and rear faces of a corresponding article with a trailing end portion extending beyond the respective lower face. The conveyor comprises two adjacent conveyor belt sections with the web feeder means supported in the area of the zone lying between the two adjacent conveyor belt sections.

Abstract: Packages which may drop from an elevator or other package supporting/conveying apparatus in a package elevating wrapping machine are caught by a package catcher comprising a pan having upwardly extending edges which is coupled to the elevator and reciprocated therewith. The pan is supported in a generally horizontal attitude to receive dropped packages. A package guide is positioned adjacent to a package feed-in tray to direct packages which may drop to the pan. The edge of the pan which extends toward the package guide is preferably angularly oriented and lengthened to be substantially aligned with the package guide when the elevator is in its lowered position. The distal end of the lengthened pan edge is maintained in close proximity to the package guide throughout the reciprocating motion of the elevator and package catcher to facilitate passage of a dropped package to the pan.

Abstract: A machine for automatically wrapping in stretch plastic film a shallow tray filled with irregularly shaped contents comprises, in sequence of operation, a horizontally directed feed table means by which articles to be wrapped are fed into the machine, a film feed station, a girth wrapping station, a side wrapping station, and a discharge or delivery conveyor for conducting a fully wrapped and sealed article out of the machine. The machine is capable of operating continuously, handling a consecutive seriatim flow of articles therethrough. The film feed station comprises a vertically reciprocable film clamp and support arm for raising a sheet of stretch film transversely across the travel path of the article to be wrapped. The article passes through the curtain of film and into the girth wrapping station, causing the lower edge of the film to be folded beneath the bottom of the article tray.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a band wrapping machine which, using one web of heat-sealing material, attends to the packaging of a plurality of boxes or products. The machine is equipped with one roll of the said material that is placed above the horizontal packaging surface and extends vertically up to and across a first horizontal roller positioned beneath the said surface, the axis of this being parallel to that of the said roll and parallel to the devices for cutting and welding the web, that is to say, perpendicular to the horizontal direction in which the parcels of boxes are infed, the said first roller being movable vertically under the action of the pull exerted by the web since this, downstream of the said first roller, is inserted in between a pair of drive rollers that are only able to move in the direction through which the web is unwound from the roll.

Abstract: In a package wrapping machine wherein packages are transported horizontally on a beyond platform to a wrapping station and deposited at the wrapping station by contact or collision of the package with a package stop as the platform travels beynd the stop, improved package handling apparatus is provided for catching trayed commodities upon rebound from the package stop and for urging them toward the stop such that they are correctly positioned for wrapping. The improved apparatus comprises a ramped projection extending upwardly from the rear of the conveying platform with the ramped projection being formed to facilitate passage beneath a package to be wrapped as the platform travels beyond the package stop. Package restraints at the wrapping station retain packages at the correct position on the wrapping station as the ramped projection passes beneath the trayed commodity.

Abstract: Packs 12 of coffee or the like centrally disposed on a carton blank 11 are pushed down into the mouth of a holder compartment 53 by a ram sensing plate 33 under predetermined pressure, which folds up the side walls 16, 17 of the blank in a U-shape. Pivot arms 41, 42 disposed on opposite upper sides of the compartment and having vertically spaced embossing edges 38, 39 at their ends are then moved inwardly to crease the side walls at the height of the compressed packs in cooperation with sharp edges 34, 35 of the sensing plate. The latter is then withdrawn, whereafter horizontally movable folding tools 51, 52 move in laterally to bend down and overlap the upwardly extending coverwall tabs 19, 20.

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: A pair of parallel conveyor belts 20, 21 are spaced apart less than the width of a web 11 of packaging material to be transported, but greater than the width of a package to be wrapped in blanks 10 severed from the web. Suction holes 24 in the inner edges of the belts hold the overlapping outer edges of the web. A transverse knife 27 slightly wider than the web passes through oblong cutouts 30, 31 in the inner edges of the belts to sever the blanks, which are subsequently U-wrapped around packages 13 individually pushed between the belts.

Abstract: A device for applying a tape around one or more objects, in which first a pe consisting of two tapes welded together is passed in U-shaped fashion around the object or objects, thereafter the two tape portions extending beyond the object or objects are moved towards one another by means of movable tape strainers; thereupon one tape portion is melted through, bent over and superficially melted by a heating element forming part of a tape bending-over member; then the other tape portion is melted through to form tape end portions and superficially melted by said heating element and finally the latter tape end portions are bent over and welded to the former tape end portions in pairs by a second tape bending-over member; the two bending-over members so co-operating as to make the two weld joints between the respective tape end portions to lie in the plane of tape of which they form part.

Abstract: A wrapping machine for U-folding a sheet of wrapping film or material around a group of cigarettes which are being conveyed along a longitudinal path to a wrapping station. The sheet of wrapping material is fed transversely into the path at the wrapping station and held there by a pair of suction rollers. Reciprocating longitudinally along the path is a receiver into which the group of cigarettes is conveyed. Before the group of cigarettes reaches the wrapping station, the forward end of the receiver engages the sheet of wrapping material and strips it from the suction rollers to form a U-shaped fold about the group of cigarettes as the group moves forwardly out of the receiver into the wrapping station. Thus, the group of cigarettes itself is not subjected to the stress required in removing the wrapping material from the suction rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic semi-batch sheet treatment of wafers such as high-purity silicon semiconductor wafers by plasma reaction is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a wafer carrying mechanism, a reaction chamber with an opening at the bottom, a wafer table disposed beneath the opening and provided with a sub-table for mounting the wafer, and control devices for driving the above elements in linkage motion. The wafer carrying mechanism is substantially composed of a conveyor for carrying a wafer to be treated, a pair of open-close type wafer carrying wire conveyors which are spaced in parallel at a certain distance and open and close in linkage motion so that the wafer table may pass vertically therethrough to be fixed vacuum-tightly to the reaction chamber, a mechanism for opening and closing the wire conveyors and a treated wafer carrying conveyor. The subtable is vertically movable and capable of passing the wire conveyors when closed.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in a machine and method for enclosing battery plates within a pouch or envelope of sheet separator material. In such machines a length of such sheet is positioned in spanning relationship to a folding aperture or slot and a plate injector shuttle is mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of the folding aperture so that when a battery plate is mounted on the injector shuttle the movement of the injector shuttle into the folding aperture effects the folding of the sheet about the leading edge of the injector shuttle and the battery plate mounted thereon. This invention provides two pairs of grasping tongs mounted in laterally spaced positions on an extractor shuttle which in turn is mounted for reciprocating movement along a path parallel to the injector shuttle and on the opposite side of the folding aperture.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping a stack of cigarette packs in a carton blank includes means for severing a blank from a supply web fed to the apparatus in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stack, vacuum suction means for holding the severed blank and rotating it until its longitudinal axis is aligned with that of the stack, and slider means for pushing the stack off of its feed conveyor, against the blank, and into the opening of a mouthpiece, whereby the blank is U-wrapped around the stack.

Abstract: A package preferably of cube shape is supported and moved by a series of notched rollers (5-9) and a film (F) is disposed in overlying relation to the package with its leading part (FL) underneath the leading part of the package and a movable tucking bar (23) is arranged to move into engagement with the trailing part (FT) of the film and movable in sequence through the notches (11, 25, 27, 29, 31) in the rollers so as to tuck the trailing part (FT) of the film (F) underneath the trailing part of the package and in overlapping relation with respect to the leading part (FL) of the film (F).

Abstract: In a twin packaging machine composed of two packaging units each including a folding device, an inlet path for feeding objects to be packaged to the device, a member storing a sheet of packaging material, a device for cutting successive packaging foils from the sheet, and an outlet path for the finished packages, the longitudinal axes of the inlet and outlet paths lying at least approximately in a common vertical plane, the sheets of packaging material are arranged in juxtaposition between the outlet paths of the units and are disposed to enter into the devices from the side opposite that at which the objects to be packaged enter the devices, the machine is provided with a support, and the inlet and outlet paths and the sheets of packaging material of the two units are symmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the support.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in strapping a bundle of articles with a heat sealable plastics material strap, the apparatus having first and second strap feed stations and a support for receiving and supporting a bundle of articles to be strapped. When the bundle is moved onto the support it passes through the line of the strap extending between the stations so that the strap is caused to embrace the bundle, and first and second limbs of the strap which then extend from the bundle to the respective stations are each clamped at two spaced apart zones. The two strap limbs are then severed between the clamping zones by a reciprocating cutter and resultant corresponding end portions of the severed limbs are then moved into clamping contact and welded together in overlapping relationship.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping an article with stretch film. The article is first advanced against a vertical web of film to partially enfold the film longitudinally about the article and to advance the article to a longitudinal folding station where a tail of the film is folded up against the bottom of the article and at which film wings laterally project from the article. The partially wrapped article is then advanced to a stretch and lateral fold station at which the film wings are clamped by clamping jaws which are moved laterally away from the article whereby to stretch the film. The article is then lifted and the clamping jaws are advanced toward each other and beneath the bottom of the article whereby to fold the wings at least partially against the article while maintaining stretching tension on the film. Thereafter, the article is advanced through a plow to complete the wrapping of the wings against the article.

Abstract: A banding machine for banding bundles of bank notes, by means of ribbons of material, which are drawn off two supply rollers by the material to be packed, which has been inserted into the machine, and pass above and beneath the material to be packed to a sealing and cutting device, which forms a closing sealing seam for the material to be packed. Bundles of different size can be handled because moveable stops move the bundle into a precise operating position.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging shoelaces in which flattened shoelace convolutions are moved away from a winding means for being received in an elongate lace confining channel of a first lace receiving unit which is then moved in a substantially vertical path into substantially aligned proximal relation to an elongate lace confining channel of a second lace receiving unit. The proximal portions of the units have elongate openings therein, communicating with the respective channels of the units, and through which the flattened shoelace convolutions are transferred from the channel of the first unit into the channel of the second unit. As this occurs a wrapper, previously positioned to extend across the elongate opening in the second lace receiving unit, is wrapped partially around the flattened convolutions.

Abstract: A machine for stretch wrapping articles, such as trays of produce, poultry, meat and the like, has a wrapper feeding mechanism which positions measured lengths of stretchable wrapping material between an elevator mechanism and a folding mechanism which is located above the elevator mechanism and includes a plurality of relatively movable folding plates. Clamping mechanism releasably secures opposite marginal portions of the positioned wrapping material while the elevator mechanism raises an article to be wrapped into stretching engagement with the wrapping material, held by the clamping mechanism, and pushes the article up through an opening of adjustable size defined by parts of the wrapper feeding mechanism and the folding mechanism to stretch the wrapping material tightly over the article. Portions of the taut wrapping material are then folded under the article by the folding mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping a stretchable foil around goods to be packed, comprising an upper supply roller for a packing foil with a hold-down and stretch beam and a lower supply roller for a packing foil with guide and stretch means. Clamping, sealing and cutting means are provided for effecting a seal and cutting the tensioned foil wrapped around the goods, wherein the lower clamping means with the lower guide and stretch means are adapted to effect a differential tension in the lower foil web in such a manner that the tension in the foil web between guide means and goods to be packed is considerably greater than between guide means and clamping means. A method of wrapping in which a differential tension is effected in a lower foil web in a package wrapping operation between the goods and a guide, and between the guide and a clamp.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping a stack of cigarette packs in a carton blank includes means for severing a blank from a supply web fed to the apparatus in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stack, vacuum suction means for holding the severed blank and rotating it until its longitudinal axis is aligned with that of the stack, and slider means for pushing the stack off of its feed conveyor, against the blank, and into the opening of a mouthpiece, whereby the blank is U-wrapped around the stack.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing discrete blanks from a web of foil or the like lis provided, in which the foil or the like are given continuous constrained guidance during the phase between separation of the web until transfer to a packet or packing machine. Severance from the web is carried out in at least one initial cut, followed by a main cut, during continuous constrained guidance.

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: Apparatus for wrapping an article with stretch film. The article is first advanced against a vertical web of film to partially enfold the film longitudinally about the article and to advance the article to a longitudinal folding station where a tail of the film is folded up against the bottom of the article and at which film wings laterally project from the article. The partially wrapped article is then advanced to a stretch and lateral fold station at which the film wings are clamped by clamping jaws which are moved laterally away from the article whereby to stretch the film. The article is then lifted and the clamping jaws are advanced toward each other and beneath the bottom of the article whereby to fold the wings at least partially against the article while maintaining stretching tension on the film. Thereafter, the article is advanced through a plow to complete the wrapping of the wings against the article.

Abstract: Packaging machine for elongated articles, wherein a frame is provided having an opening through which the article is laterally moved, wherein a roller of wrapping material is mounted at the top of the frame so that the material hangs as a curtain across the opening, and wherein sealing means is provided for sealing the material around the article when the article is pushed laterally into the curtain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sizing and fitting cover flaps over tray-type packets such that an optimum packet is formed regardless of the compressibility of the material to be enclosed.

Abstract: The machine for the wrapping of articles in stretchable film of soft plastic material comprises a platform presenting a horizontal flat surface, onto which the article to be wrapped is positioned. The said platform is moved along a quadrangular path, effecting sequentially a lower horizontal run, during which it becomes loaded with the article, a upwardly directed vertical run, which brings the article in contact with the wrapping film and during which the proper wrapping cycle is started, a horizontal upper run, during which the wrapping operation is completed and the article is transferred away from the platform, and a downwardly directed vertical run, which brings again the platform to its loading position.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, wrapping packages of different sizes in thin-gage film and heat sealing the film includes transporting the package at the same horizontal level through the machine, pulling the film down across a horizontal in-line package path to form a vertical wall of film, pushing the article along the path forwardly into the wall of film, forming a tubular loop of film about the package with the loop open at the rearward end, severing the film, closing and sealing the rearward end of the loop, stretching, and/or underfolding the film, and heat sealing the package. The length of film needed to wrap packages of randomly different sizes is sensed and fed automatically. A trailing-end portion of over-lapping film of preselected fixed length, irrespective of the size of the particular package, is provided at the rearward edge of the package. This over-lapping trailing portion is heat sealed and then pushed against the back of, or under, the package.

Abstract: A single gum stick wrapping machine includes a gum breaking mechanism for separating prescored slabs of gum into individual sticks. A transport mechanism, which receives the gum from the breaking mechanism and intermittently advances it along a horizontal path through a plurality of folding stations, includes a walking beam transport, which reaches into the breaking mechanism and extracts each successive stick as it is separated from a slab. Long seam folding operations are completed by a pocket wheel and an associated transport which delivers the sticks in stacked relation at a collection point at the discharge end of the machine.

Abstract: A wrapping machine for wrapping articles in stretchable material utilizes a lifting platform to lift articles into a sheet of the material. While holding the edges of the sheet, the wrapping operation takes place to stretch the sheet around the article and fold the edges under the article. During the wrapping operation, the article is held in place by arms gripping the sides of the article and, after wrapping, the article is discharged by movement of the article gripper. In addition the lifting platform is of special three part construction for maximum support to the article during wrapping, and the sheets are fed from a roll of material resting on a driven roller.

Abstract: In a machine for enveloping an article with plastics film, the leading end of the film is held fast and a pusher moves the article in a path between the leading end of the film and a supply roll therefor so that a loop of film becomes partially slung about the article, whereupon a movable beam completes the loop prior to welding the loop ends together. A knife on a pivotable lever severs the loop and co-operates with a clamping lever to hold fast the new leading end of film for enveloping a successive article.

Abstract: A novel bale-wrapping process provides bales of superior appearance and greater durability to shipping conditions and involves wrapping a strapped bale with a nonwoven fabric that is then sewn to snugly fit the gross contours of the bale.

Abstract: A banding apparatus with a ball-type, reciprocally movable web gripping mechanism cooperable with a web transfer mechanism for gripping one end of a web. The web gripping mechanism extends the web across the open end of a banding chute. A stack handling member is mounted for reciprocal movement in the chute between a normal upper position and a lower position. When the member is moved to its lower position, it acts as a support for the stack and a guide for the web. When the member is moved to its upper position, it elevates a completed bundle into position for transfer from the banding apparatus. With regard to the method steps involved to form a completed bundle, a stack of articles is moved into engagement with the web and support member, and then inserted into the banding chute through the open end thereof for moving the member to its lower position. The member is provided with guides which during downward movement of the member extend upwardly for guiding the web around the stack of articles.

Abstract: A machine to apply strips or webs of heat-sealable and/or heat shrinkable material around coiled rolls of sheet material to either band or wrap such rolls, or shrink such bands or wrapping web into close contiguous engagement with said rolls to prevent uncoiling of the same. The machine includes means to relax the tension on the strips or webs when the same are about to be heat sealed to encircle coiled rolls by means of anvil and heater bars which cooperate to engage said strips or web when encircling the rolls and heat-seal the same and simultaneously sever the encircling portions from the supply and also re-connect the severed portions by fusion to position the same across the path of the rolls through the machine for engagement by the rolls. Pusher means also push the coiled rolls into engagement with re-connected strips or web by means of guide mechanism for the pusher means which moves it horizontally.

Abstract: Arrays of articles are stacked one on top of another in a U-shaped shroud structure which includes vacuum means to retain the upper array while the lower array of articles is positioned therebeneath. A carton blank is simultaneously fed from a stack to a position over the pocket of a intermittently operated conveyor. A vertically reciprocable mandrel forms the flat blank into a U-shape in one of these pockets. Both the mandrel and shroud are mounted on a shifting carriage so that as the mandrel is moved to an inactive position, the shroud shifts the arrays of articles onto the bottom panel of the U-shaped carton blank. Flap folding devices then fold certain of the end flaps of the carton and the shroud is then raised clear of the partially formed box so that the top panel can be folded. The manufacturer's flap and certain other end flaps are then folded up and the box conveyed by the pocket chain conveyor to a horizontal compression unit.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for wrapping a two-piece foil blank about a group of articles, such as cigarettes, as the group is moved along a given path. The two-pieces, a main blank and a flap blank, are both cut from a single web of wrapping material and transported along different paths to the group of articles. The flap blank is placed on the group of articles as it moves along its path, and as the group contacts the main blank which is placed across its path of travel, it causes the main blank to be wrapped around the group of articles such that it overlaps a portion of the flap blank.

Abstract: A carton loading and forming machine having a carton dispenser magazine which includes a walking beam mechanism arranged to underlie portions of the carton blanks in the magazine for moving the carton blanks towards the discharge end of the magazine. The magazine is adapted to suspend the blanks from support rails disposed at opposite sides of the blanks and arranged above the centre of gravity of the blanks so that the blanks hang freely from the support rails. The machine also includes transfer means for transferring carton blanks from the dispenser to a wrapping station. The transfer means including a laterally extending carton blank conveyor for moving carton blanks laterally from the dispenser mechanism to the carton wrapping station. Plow blades are provided adjacent the conveyor to fold the carton blanks, as they travel along the conveyor, to a generally U-shaped configuration opening in a direction to receive a mandrel travelling along the wrapping path.

Abstract: A process and a machine for packaging items in stretchable foils of plastic material, wherein the foil is subjected to maximum stretching in at least a transversal direction, before bringing the item to be packaged into contact with the thus pre-stretched foil. To avoid further stretching of the pre-stretched foil, the machine comprises a lifting table for vertically elevating the item relative to the pre-stretched foil, and means for controllably releasing at least the transversal opposed foil side edges as the lifting table moves upwardly, while folding the side edges under the item.

Abstract: A banding apparatus for enwrapping an object, or a group of objects, employs a system for tightening the banding material around the object of package which includes a piston-cylinder unit operated by compressed air and an adjustable valve which enables the tightening to be set at variable values to accommodate for different shapes, sizes and deformation characteristics of the object or package.

Abstract: An annular object is disposed between upper and lower thermally fusible thermoplastic foils which are pushed together and cut away in an annular weld seam by a pair of tool halves brought vertically together in the central opening of the object. The lower tool half fits between a pair of spaced-apart transport bands which serve to carry the packaged object away after its center is cut out. The object can be supported above the bands on a fork so that the two tool halves can be brought together at a plane in the middle of the thickness of the object. If the object rests on the bands, the upper foil is deformed downwardly to the level of the undeflected bottom foil so that the lower foil is not deformed and ripped.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus in which units to be wrapped and flexible packaging material for wrapping the units are fed forward with the units spaced apart in the direction of feed, with a dwell interval between successive feed cycles, and having means for forming a seal across the width of the material between two successive units during each dwell interval. The units are fed forward by conveyor means intermittently driven via a chain and sprocket drive including a crank rotatable about a predetermined axis, means for continuously rotating the crank in one direction about its said axis, a first sprocket secured to the crank with the axis of the first sprocket offset from the crank axis for rotation of the first sprocket about the crank axis without rotation of said first sprocket about its own axis, a second sprocket and a chain trained around said first and second sprockets. The sealing means is operated during the dwell intervals by a similar chain and sprocket drive mechanism.