Abstract: A folding turret (10) for receiving packs (11) or other articles in pockets (17) consists of part turrets (25, 26) which are adjustable relative to one another during a stationary phase of the turret, in such a way that the cross-section of the pockets (17) is temporarily increased and then reduced again. During the rotary movement of the folding turret, the pockets (17) have a reduced cross-section which ensures that the packs (11) are fixed within the pockets (17) as a result of a clamping effect.

Abstract: Method and an apparatus for binding coils, for example, of sheet steel, which enable the whole process, from the formation of the coils to the completion of the ready-to-be-shipped bound coils, to be automated. Provision is made so that the strips, produced in a slitting line for example, in each case are coiled in coaxially aligned groups and, while their free severed ends in each case are held down they, are collected. Each collected group of coils, while retaining the coaixal alignment and the holding down of the severed ends, are moved into a transfer position, from which the coils, while the respective severed end continues to be held down, are isolated cyclically and transferred into an operating cycle passing through a first and a second binding position as well as a removal position, one or several additional groups of coils being collected while the coils are being worked off cyclically.

Abstract: An improvement in method and apparatus for continuously folding, heating, and tacking to the sides of the package panel the excess packaging material created by forming the package from a web of polyfoil material is disclosed. The method and apparatus is particularly useful in form, fill, and seal machines that form a plurality of aseptic sealed packages from a continuously advancing tube filled with a product, and incorporate a plurality of package receiving means mounted on a continuously advancing structure that forms sealed product filled packages into rectangular finished bricks by squaring the package, heating the excess material, folding the excess material against the package until it cools to thereby tack it.

Abstract: A method for transferring objects (2), wherein the objects (2) are fed in bulk in a loading region onto at least one first intermittently rotating disc (5; 6) of vertical axis, provided with a rim (9; 9') of holes (10; 10') for containing the objects (2); within a station (20; 20') there are provided members (21) which transfer the objects (2) from the holes (10; 10') of the first disc (5; 6) to the holes (18) of a second disc (15), and which engage each hole (10; 10') of the first disc (5; 6) once during every two revolutions of this latter.

Abstract: The device comprises an indexed conveyor wheel having a cylindrical surface with pockets, and a pair of photocell type transducers, one preceding the other in the direction of rotation of wheel, the first located in alignment with a station at which each pocket pauses as the wheel is indexed; one such transducer verifies the correct position of the outer wrapping in relation to the ends of the pack, whilst the other verifies correct position of the wrapping in relation to the sides. A knock-out interlocked to the transducers enables automatic rejection of those packs exhibiting defects in positioning of the outer wrapping.

Abstract: In the apparatus used for producing cuboid (cigarette) packs of the hinge-lid type having bevelled or rounded longitudinal edges (37,38,39,40) the blank is brought into an angular intermediate folding position thereby erecting the side tabs and forming the bevelled or rounded lonitudinal edges. For this purpose, the blank is pressed, by means of a shaping punch (58) with punch plate (59), into a pocket (47) of a folding turret (46), the blank parts being folded, thereby forming the bevelled longitudinal edges, by means of stationary or movable folding tools.

Abstract: Packaging machines have to, on the one hand, achieve high levels of output but, on the other hand, take into account the sensitivity of the cigarettes to mechanical stresses. A two-track configuration of the packaging machine doubles the output at a given speed (number of strokes). By the special designing of a cigarette magazine (26) in conjunction with a group turret (28), it is accomplished that the formation of cigarette groups (21) and the insertion into the pockets (64) of the group turret (28) can be performed within adequately set stroke times at a high output of the packaging machine.

Abstract: Starting from an apparatus according to German Offenlegungsschrift No. 3,123,496, an apparatus for wrapping relatively large articles, especially a plurality of individual packs (cigarette cartons), is simplified and improved in terms of its mode of operation, in such a way that the packs (20) formed in different ways always leave the apparatus at the same point (discharge conveyor track 40) and can be supplied to a common pack tower (41). For this purpose, there are two folding turrets (38, 39) for wrapping the pack group (22) with different blanks.

Abstract: Packing paper receiving and folding method and apparatus are disclosed. The method has the steps of receiving and supporting a packing paper through an opening portion defined between suction arms of a suction ring; moving an arbor into the suction ring accompanying packing paper folded in a U-shape through the opening portion; effecting body folding of the packing paper using the arbor as a core member; and effecting flaps folding within the suction ring while properly maintaining the state of the body folding. The apparatus has a rotatable suction ring including a bracket, a pair of suction arms pivotable with respect to the bracket, the other ends of the suction arms defining an opening portion therebetween so that an arbor can enter therethrough, folding claws mounted on the insides of the suction arms and a bottom clamp positioned in the opening portion; a U-clamp provided within the suction ring for body folding; and a seaming clamp approaching to and departing from the arbor.

Abstract: A packaging machine for bodies of the type of soap comprises a drum (1) rotating intermittently by a half turn and having a housing (14) passing diametrically through it, which housing (14) is arranged to permit a block (15) to slide in it and, at each pause of the drum (1), is aligned with a station (2) for the insertion of a body (5) of the above-mentioned type and its associated wrapping element (4) and with an opposite ejection station (3). A reciprocating thrust element (23), carrying out this insertion, is connected by connecting means (26, 32, 34, 36, 22, 16) to cause the block (15) to slide in the housing (14) only during the insertion.

Abstract: A packing paper receiving and folding apparatus is disclosed. It has a rotatable suction ring including a bracket, a pair of suction arms axially supported at their one ends in a pivotable manner with respect to the bracket, the other ends of the suction arms defining an opening portion between them so that an arbor can enter from there, folding claws mounted on the inside of at least one of the suction arms, and a bottom clamp positioned in the opening portion to complete the suction ring having substantially an annular outer periphery; a U-clamp provided within the suction ring for body folding, a main presser for pressing an inner bag provided within the suction ring in such a manner as to be openable; and a seaming clamp approaching to and departing from the arbor.

Abstract: A packaging machine has, for wrapping flat, rectangular items in a wrapper sheet, a folding, sealing and conveying apparatus including an intermittently driven turntable, a plurality of pocket assemblies on the turntable, a charging station for radially introducing an article with a wrapper sheet in between first and second walls of a pocket assembly dwelling in the charging station, a sealing station for providing a longitudinal fin seal on previously superposed flaps of the wrapper sheet, and a discharge station for radially ejecting the article from the pocket assembly dwelling in the discharge station. There is further provided an extension affixed to the first wall of each pocket assembly at an angle to the first wall. Each extension has a support face cooperating with the sealing shoe of the sealing station as a countersupport. The apparatus also has a device for rotating each pocket assembly approximately 180.degree.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing packs by wrapping articles in at least one blank, especially for producing large packs composed of pack groups (22), the pack groups (22) passing, to be wrapped in blanks, through at least one wrapping and folding member in the form of a folding turret (38 or 39) with several pockets (47 or 65) open in a radial direction, each for receiving one article or one pack group (22) together with a blank. In order to push the pack groups (22) out of the turret pockets (47 to 65) without tilting, each pocket has assigned to it a pushing-out device (96 or 97) movable in the radial direction and forming the bottom of the pocket.

Abstract: Cuboid (cigarette) packs (10) are conventionally provided with folding tabs joined by glueing. So that the adhesive can set before the packs (10) are exposed to loads, a first drying turret (14) is provided for temporarily receiving the packs (10) in individual pockets (15), and a further drying turret (18), in which one pack group (23) is received in each pocket (22), is provided for the final drying or hardening of the adhesive.

Abstract: A device for use in machines for wrapping blocks e.g. soap tablets (1) comprising a drum (3) which rotates intermittently and has diametrically opposed seatings (4) for the tablets (1), a station (6) for receiving a tablet (1) expelled from an adjacent seating (4) partially wrapped in an associated piece of wrapping paper (2), and means (11, 12) for removing the tablets (1) in succession from the station (6). The device comprises a hopper (20) movable alternately between the station (6) and a position remote from it, in register with the path of transport means (11,12) and orientated relative to the path so that the hopper (20) can be intercepted by pushers (12) of the transport means (11,12), the hopper (20) being arranged to receive a tablet (1) and its associated piece of wrapping paper (2) expelled from the drum (3) at the station (6) and to deliver them into said remote position to be engaged and carried away by a pusher (12) of the transport means (11,12).

Abstract: For raising the rate of production of packaging machines, especially for the manufacture of cigarette packets (10, 11), the rate of production of an apparatus for wrapping the packets in an outer blank (film blank 19, 20) is to be raised. For this purpose a plurality, especially two adjacent packets (10, 11) are conveyed simultaneously, and are wrapped in a common overall blank (18) of corresponding width. After formation of a stable tubular blank, which wraps both the packets (10, 11), there follows the cutting through of the overall blank (18), with formation of the individual film blanks (19, 20) which thereafter are fully folded.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for wrapping batches of products, in particular candies, and for forming sealed packets, which envisages: a batch of products being supplied to a wrapping wheel; a sheet of heat-sealing material with two lateral downward turned borders being placed above the batch; the said borders being welded one to the other in order to form a tube, the opposite extremities of which are first flattened through the insertion in between them of divarication means; the said extremities then being sealed by welding/pre-folding grippers designed to make, on each welded tubular extremity, weakening lines that aid the subsequent folding of the said extremities.

Abstract: A package forming apparatus comprises a pushing member which is capable of being inserted into a core member to form the bottom of a package by folding an end portion of the sheet material wound on the core member is driven by a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism comprises a slidable shaft provided on a rotary drum for movement in axial direction thereof, an arm member having one end secured to one end of the sliding shaft, a socket member having an intermediate portion rotatably supported at the other end of the arm member, a crank arm having one end secured to one end of the socket, the other end of the extension shaft being secured to the other end of the socket member and coupling member for snap coupling together the arm member and crank arm at a predetermined rotational position. Thus, the pushing member may be movable between the position where it faces with the core member and the position where it does not face the same.

Abstract: In the production of cigarette packs, especially as hinge-lid or flip top packs, the introduction of a group of cigarettes, in the form of a cigarette block, into the partially folded pack is accomplished by feeding the cigarette block in the radial direction to a folding turret for the pack, the cigarette block being received in a block pocket during a transport stage. To prevent relative displacements in this stage, the cigarette block is fixed, during transport in the block pocket, by clamping.

Abstract: An improved packing container forming apparatus is disclosed. In the arbor turret type packing container forming apparatus, the improvement comprising a plurality of arbors arranged in tandem on a rotary packing drum in the axial direction, an aluminum foil suction ring for forming an aluminum bag with its one end closed in combination with the corresponding arbor by winding a sheet of aluminum foil around the arbor in the first rotary row, a package paper suction ring for forming a package paper bag with its one end closed in combination with the corresponding arbor by winding a sheet of package paper around the arbor in the second rotary row, and a shifting mechanism including a pair of racks and a pinion for shifting the arbors in the first rotary row to the second rotary row in a consecutive manner.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping and grouping products of parallelepedic and/or flat shapes is described, in which the individual products are wrapped by a first wheel and conveyed to a second wheel designed to form, in an alternate manner, two types of groups, in the first of which the products are positioned together in a flat manner and in the second of which the products are positioned together in an arrangement which intersects a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the products themselves. The products are conveyed from the wrapping wheel to the wheel for forming the groups by means of a conveyor head having sections, whose position may be varied in order to enable the removal of the products from different positions of the wrapping wheel and consequently to enable the production of groups of the first or the second type.

Abstract: A machine for packing groups or bundles of cigarettes has a packing conveyor 15 on which each wrapped bundle 32 is laterally supported within an outer blank by corner tabs 12 of the blank being reverse folded at a station C before an inner frame 38 is inserted. The tabs 12 subsequently slide along a raised track 28, which extends up to a station G where the inner frame is applied, so that the inner wall 11 of the lid is kept upright. At a downstream station N is a rejector device for faulty packs, including a continuously reciprocating pusher 50 which is swung down into its operative position by a rib cam 76. One of the cam followers 80 is brought into contact with the cam during its dwell portion 77 by operating an actuator 88 to extend and align a pair of toggle links 84, 86.

Abstract: The machine for wrapping and grouping products of parallelepiped and/or flat shape is of the type in which the individual products are conveyed by a wrapping wheel and wrapped in accordance with the so-called "pointed end" wrapping manner.From said wheel the products pass to a conveying and overturning apparatus to be inverted before reaching a wheel for the formation and transfer of groups constituted by products disposed side-by-side edgewise with their contacting edges in a plane normal to the longitudinal dimension of said groups.This overturning enables the groups to be introduced into the cells of a wrapping wheel with their pointed ends facing the bottom of said cells.

Abstract: A paper pressing device has a pair of presser plates being positioned opposite the lateral faces of an arbor. The opening and closing operation of the presser plates is conducted by a lever which is engaged with an oscillator by a spring. The oscillator adjusts the length of the spring so that the pressing force of the presser plates is constant irrespective of the force of inertia.

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: An apparatus for packaging cigarettes includes a magazine 35 for supplying cigarette groups 23 to pockets 71 of a first revolver 66, whereafter they are transferred into foil lined pockets 74 of a second revolver 67 and then into paper lined pockets 91 of a third revolver 68. The revolvers are continuously driven, and the groups are always oriented with their wide front or rear faces outermost in the pockets to implement smooth tangential transfer between the revolvers. A curved stripper and guide bar 94 enters through the sides of the first revolver pockets to transfer the groups to the second revolver. Transfer between the second and third revolvers is made by simultaneously decreasing the radial depth of the second revolver pockets and increasing the radial depth of the third revolver pockets at a transfer station 89.

Abstract: Machine for packing cigarettes in hard, flip-top packets on which the packets are made by folding die-cut pieces round preformed groups of cigarettes on a folding wheel turning round a horizontal axis; on which the packets are then sent to a final drying wheel turning round a horizontal axis essentially perpendicular to the axis of the said folding wheel; on which the packets are then shifted axially in relation to the drying wheel and unloaded off the latter on to an essentially horizontal output conveyor the axis of which is essentially parallel to the rotation axis of the drying wheel.

Abstract: A packing machine, wherein an indexible turret carries an annulus of hollow mandrels for arrays of cigarettes, has a tongs which delivers a flat blank between two neighboring mandrels during each period of dwell of the turret, and such blank is placed against the front side of the mandrel therebehind, as considered in the direction of movement of the turret. A biasing member is installed between each pair of neighboring mandrels, and the biasing member which is adjacent to a mandrel that is contacted by a freshly supplied blank is thereupon moved against the outer side of the blank to urge it against the front side of the mandrel. The blank is then converted into a U-shaped body overlaying the front side and the lateral surfaces of the respective mandrel while it is held by the adjacent biasing member.

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: 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: The apparatus according to the invention consists of a hollow rotating cylinder 10 having openings 14 disposed at regular intervals the length of its peripheral surface. Said cylinder is engaged in stepping rotation by hollow shaft 34. A cylindrical block is situated inside cylinder 10, said cylindrical block being composed of two stationary elements 18 and 19 connected to a stationary tubular piece 26 containing a pivotable shaft 23. The pivotable shaft has a toothed pinion 22 attached to its anterior end, which pinion cooperates with grooved slides 20 and 21, which serve both as the means for ejecting products and as a movable base for the folding cavity once the products has been positioned therein.

Abstract: Packs, especially large packs with several individual packs (cigarette cartons), are produced with different constructions, namely with different or, if appropriate, several outer wrappings (blanks). For the alternative production of different packs of this type in one and the same unit, there are several, especially two wrapping and folding units (folding turrets 15, 16), through which the pack content (pack group 11) passes jointly or alternatively depending on the form of the pack, and different blanks can be attached. On the outflow side of these wrapping and folding units there is a pack holder with a pack tower, and this pack holder can be connected alternatively to one or other wrapping and folding unit for receiving the packs.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring partly formed soft packs of cigarettes, the adhesive in whose folded bottom ends may not have fully set, comprises a pair of air cylinders 54,56 which are pivotally mounted for alternately swinging into successive open-sided pockets 20 of a drying drum 12. As a soft pack 16 on a pack-forming drum 10 is stripped off its mandrel 14 by a pusher 62, one of the two cylinders engages its bottom end and maintains slight compression of the end during transfer. Meanwhile the other cylinder is extended in readiness for the next pack to be transferred.

Abstract: A sealing wheel having a plurality of radially outwardly opening pockets is rotatably indexed through loading and discharging positions. Each pocket, formed by a pair of stationary jaws, receives an article and its wrapper at the loading position and forms the wrapper to a U-fold about the article. Movable heat sealing jaws associated with each pair of stationary jaws have U-shaped sealing surfaces which engage marginal portions of the wrapper outwardly of the stationary jaws to form a U-shaped fin seal around three sides of the package, a fourth side being formed by the wrapper fold. A jaw opening mechanism opens each set of sealing jaws as it approaches the discharging position, where the wrapped and sealed package is ejected. The jaw opening mechanism is also arranged to simultaneously open all jaws in closed position in response to a predetermined condition, such as machine shut-down.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging cigarettes, the apparatus comprising means for applying a strip of packaging material about a group of the articles to form a tube and folding and gluing the ends of the wrapper to define the package is provided with a plural stage drying apparatus which permits a long glue drying operation without adversely effecting the speed of operation of the packaging apparatus. The drying apparatus includes a pair of adjacent, synchronously rotated, drums which have receiving cells for the packages. The packages are transferred, typically in pairs, into individual cells of a first drum and are subsequently simultaneously transferred from cells in the first drum into cells of the second drum.

Abstract: The packaging of plural articles in a common wrapper is accomplished with the aid of wrapping mandrels into which preformed blocks of the articles are loaded. The wrapping mandrels have movable slides which define the effective length of the mandrels and thus insure that first ends of the articles will lie in the plane of the insertion end of the mandrels, the first ends of the articles thus defining a stable base over which a wrapping may be folded. The slides are reciprocated in the mandrels to eject packages, open at one end, to a device for closing the open end.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging cigarettes includes a magazine 35 for supplying cigarette groups 23 to pockets 37 of a first revolver 32, whereafter they are transferred into foil lined pockets 38 of a second revolver 33 and then into paper lined pockets 39 of a third revolver 34. The groups are always oriented with their wide front or rear faces outermost in the pockets to minimize the radial transfer distance, and movable support plates 93 are provided at the first transfer station 45 to engage the free outer row of loose cigarettes to retain them intact during transfer.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically wrapping a plate for use in a lead acid industrial storage battery, said wrapping comprising a combination of three acid resistant, flexible porous materials forming an envelope adapted to insulate said plate while allowing free access of the battery acid to the surfaces of said plate. As configured, the wrapping apparatus comprises a plurality of regularly spaced, heated die fixtures attached to a servo controlled turntable, said turntable acting to index said dies through a set of six fixed work stations which are disposed on said apparatus around the periphery of said turntable. The six work stations of the apparatus are adpated to feed each of the three wrapping materials and a plate into one of said dies, wrap the materials around the plate, seal the edges of the outermost of said three wrapping materials, discharge the wrapped plate for further processing and measure the temperature of the heated die before it is recycled through the apparatus.

Abstract: A sweet wrapping machine includes a continuously rotating feed disc (12) having regularly pitched sweet-receiving pockets (13), a continuously rotating wrapping wheel (44) having pockets (43) spaced at a greater pitch than the pockets in the feed disc, and a continuously rotating transfer wheel (16) including pockets (15) which receive the sweets from the pockets in the feed disc and transfer them to the pockets of the wrapping wheel. The pockets (15) are on the ends of arms (25) which are shifted during rotation of the transfer wheel from a spacing conforming to the pockets in the feed disc to a spacing conforming to the pockets of the wrapping wheel.

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 packing machine for cigarettes, in particular for soft packs, with a plurality of pack-forming assemblies 1-16, has at least one operating member 21-23 in each assembly which is movable, e.g. to clamp a sheet of foil 300 or a paper lable 400 against a packet mandrel 20. The assemblies are each indexed past a number of stations at each of which a drive shaft 33 (FIG. 3) engages a coupling shaft 35 connected to the respective operating member. The shafts lie perpendicular to the direction of movement of the assemblies and they engage with one another through a tongue 34 and fork 36 coupling.The coupling shaft 35 may be connected to the operating member through an eccentric 52 or, where the operating member has to be moved linearly, through a rack and pinion 61.

Abstract: A variable capacity buffer storage device 20 is disposed in series between a metal foil wrapping unit 16 and a paper blank enclosing unit 18 in a cigarette packaging apparatus. The storage device is in the form of an endless belt conveyor 31 having a plurality of rectangular compartments 33 configured to receive a block of cigarettes enclosed in a folded but unglued metal foil wrapper to retain the folded flaps from opening. A movable pulley 44 can vary the length of the storage run of the conveyor in response to breakdowns of the input wrapping or output enclosing units.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling rod-like articles incorporates a buffer reservoir system using trolleys having vertical compartments for storing the articles in stack formation. The compartments receive the articles from outlets in a first conveyor and may return articles to a second conveyor through inlets. The first conveyor may form part of a conveyor system linking one or more cigarette making machines to one or more cigarette packing machines. The outlets are closable by a gate and a platform is moved through each compartment to lower articles from the outlet. The bottoms of the compartments are provided with removable slats. A particular form of closure suitable for separating a stack of rod-like articles and apparatus for loading and unloading containers with rod-like articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wrapping device in which two rotating drums (18, 20) of identical circumferential velocities are arranged symmetrically and one of the rotating drums (18) is provided around its circumference with a number of recesses (36) adapted to receive the sheet articles from an open bottom (32) of the hopper (16) in which a number of the sheet articles are stored in superposition whereas the opposite rotating drum (20) is provided around its circumference with a number of receivers (78) which first hold the wrapping paper and then catch the sheet article transmitted from the rotating drum (18), so that the wrapping operation is continuously performed by the synchronous rotation of the wrapping drums (18, 20) with folding of the wrapping paper.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved machine for wrapping and batching products wherein between a product entry position in a wrapping wheel and a position for the egress and expulsion of the products from the said wrapping wheel, provision is made for a position in which a device for grasping and rotating individual products is placed. This device has jaws for grasping the products and is provided with a two way movement along a sliding axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the wrapping wheel, and with a reciprocating movement around the said axis in time with the aforementioned two way movement, the said jaws being phased to match the opening and closing of the product grasping and transfer grippers with which the wrapping wheel is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing bar packages from individually wrapped sweets. The apparatus comprises a sweets holder extending into the path of movement of the sweet grippers of the packing head and revolving continuously at the same speed as the packing head, a stack former with bar packing means adjacent thereto and transfer means disposed between sweets holder and stack former and which forms from the individually wrapped sweets which are fed continuously and one after another to the sweets holder a rod of sweets in the stack former, the rod or bar of sweets then being enclosed in an outer wrapper in the bar packing apparatus.

Abstract: A sealing wheel having a plurality of radially outwardly opening pockets is rotatably indexed through loading and discharging positions. Each pocket, formed by a pair of stationary jaws, receives an article and its wrapper at the loading position and forms the wrapper to a U-fold about the article. Movable heat sealing jaws associated with each pair of stationary jaws have U-shaped sealing surfaces which engage marginal portions of the wrapper outwardly of the stationary jaws to form a U-shaped fin seal around three sides of the package, a fourth side being formed by the wrapper fold. A jaw opening mechanism opens each set of sealing jaws as it approaches the discharging position, where the wrapped and sealed package is ejected. The jaw opening mechanism is also arranged to simultaneously open all jaws in closed position in response to a predetermined condition, such as machine shut-down.

Abstract: Packs of product move along a defined path, compressed in the grip of carrier jaws. A pair of webs of thermoplastic sheet material move towards said path from opposite sides thereof and are joined at a heat-fused seam to form an effective continuous strip across said path and into which a pair of carrier jaws moves with its pack. Pressure jaws converge just behind the carrier jaws to form the strip into a loop around the carrier jaws and produce two parallel, slightly spaced heat-fused seams between which the webs are severed and one of which connects the ends of said loop to form a band around the carrier jaws while the other connects the webs into a strip for formation of the next band. Until the band-completing seam has cooled, the carrier jaws keep the pack compressed enough to prevent seam rupturing tension on the band, then diverge enough to tension the band slightly, whereupon band and pack, in unison, are slid endwise out of engagement with the carrier jaws.

Abstract: A packing machine has a main rotor (104) carrying hollow mandrels (141) to which foil and paper blanks are fed by respective feed units (160, 170) and folding/tucking devices to produce a packet with one end closed on each mandrel successively. Groups of cigarettes are fed to the mandrels from a twin-delivery hopper (110, 111, 112) the two deliveries (111, 112) of the hopper serving alternate pockets (121) of a single conveyor drum (102) which carries the groups towards the main rotor (104), a transfer drum (103) taking adjacent groups two at a time from the conveyor drum (102) to the rotor (104) and compressing each group during transfer. Each packet is removed from its mandrel (by pushing the cigarettes against the closed end of the packet) into a further drum (105) on which the second end of the packet is closed and adhesive securing folds of the packet completes its drying. The packet is then discharged through a stamper unit (106).

Abstract: In the manufacture of sweets from a continuous rope of toffee or like confectionery material and the wrapping thereof in suitable wrapping material, it is customary to ensure that the feed of the rope is interfered with in the event of any interference with the supply of wrapping material. The present invention provides such interference by substantially instantaneously removing driving contact between the rope and the rope-driving surface, thus substantially preventing unwrapped sweets from coming into contact with the wrapping elements.