GB2068882A - Closing the front end of a package - Google Patents

Abstract

The projecting end of a wrapper tube about a commodity, e.g. bakery products, so as to extend beyond the front end face of the commodity by a distance exceeding the radius of the tubed wrapper, is closed by firstly simultaneously folding in indentical sections 151 nequally distributed along the periphery of the front end face of the commodity in a direction toward the front end face of the commodity to inclined positions with the fold lines 152 of the folded-in sections forming generatrices of a first conical frustum. Webs 153 thus project outwardly between the fold lines and the outer marginal edges 154 of such webs form generatrices of a more pointed second conical frustum so that the folded projecting wrapper end is converted into a conical frustum with a corrugated surface. The folded-in sections are thereupon pressed against the front end face of the commodity, one after the other, with attendant formation of triangular segments which lie against the commodity and between which webs, which at such time also exhibit a triangular shape, extend outwardly. The triangular webs are thereupon folded in the circumferential direction such that they overlap each other adjacent to the front end face of the commodity. Means for carrying out such steps are also provided, said means comprising a ring of triangular folding plates 124. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for closing the front end of a package, as well as a package produced in accordance therewith The invention relates to a method for closing the front end of a package, consisting of a round or polygonal commodity, especially a commodity which consists of a plurality of similar pieces of bakery products, and consisting of a wrapping material which forms a hose closely adhering to the periphery of the commodity and extending beyond the front and face of the commodity by a distance which exceeds the radius of the hose, by folding and overlapping of segments of the hose portion extending beyond the commodity, one after the other, and by connecting the overlapping segments to each other.

The invention also relates to an apparatus (which is especially suited for the practice of the method according to the invention) for closing the front end of a package, consisting of a round or polygonal commodity, especially a commodity consisting of similar pieces of bakery products, and further consisting of a wrapping material which surrounds, in hoselike fashion, the periphery of the commodity and extends beyond the front end face of the commodity by a distance which exceeds the radius of the hose.

Finally, the invention relates to a package (especially a package which is manufactured in accordance with the method and in an apparatus in accordance with the invention) for round or polygonal cylindrical commodities, especially commodities consisting of a plurality of similar pieces of bakery products, with a wrapping material which surrounds the commodity and is closed at an end face of the commodity by sections which are folded over each other.

An object of the present invention is to close the front end face of tubular wrapping material which extends beyond the front end face of the commodity in such a way that one achieves a dense and regularly formed front end enclosure and the thus obtained package exhibits an eye-pleasing appearance and can be readily opened.

The method for the accomplishment of such object in accordance with the invention consists in that identical sections of the extension of the hose which are uniformly distributed at the periphery of the front end of the commodity are simultaneously depressed in the direction toward the front end face of the commodity to such an extent that the fold lines constitute generatrices of a first conical frustum so that webs extend outwardly between the fold lines and the outer marginal edges of the webs form the generatrices of a more pointed second conical frustum whereby the extension of the wrapping material forms a conical frustum with a corrugated surface, that the depressed sections are thereupon pressed against the front end face of the commodity, one after the other, to thus form triangular segments which are adjacent to the commodity and between which there develop outwardly extending triangular webs, and that the triangular webs are thereupon folded in a direction such that they overlap each other adjacent to the front end face of the commodity.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that there is provided a plurality of folding members which are disposed concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the commodity at equal distances from each other and which are pivotable about axes parallel to the plane of the front end face of the commodity or are actually located in such plane, there being provided drive means for the folding members which drive means pivot the folding members about the pivot axes in such a way that the extension of the hose is depressed in a direction toward the front end face of the commodity by less than ninety degrees, whereupon the drive means pivot the folding members one after the other against the front end face of the commodity so that there develop triangular segments of wrapping material at the commodity between which there are provided triangular webs which extend outwardly, and by the provision of further drive means for pivoting the folding members about the longitudinal axis of the commodity so that the webs are folded in a direction such that they overlap each other adjacent to the front end face of the commodity.

The package according to the invention is characterized in that the sections are at least substantially identical triangular folded flaps (webs) which extend at equal distances from the periphery of the front end face of the commodity and expand in a direction toward the center of the front end face. The longest marginal edges of the sections extend substantially in the radial directions of the front end face and are somewhat longer than the radius of the front end face, and all of the sections are folded in the same direction under the front end face so that the tip of each folded flap-as considered in the circumferential direction---overlaps a neighboring folded flap.

Further developments and additional embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing which shows an embodiment. There are shown in: Figure 1 a packing turret in accordance with the invention, Figure la a chamber with a pair of shearlike folding elements, drawn to a larger scale, Figure 1b a fragmentary sectional view of the packing turret in the region of a chamber, Figures 2a. . 2f a device for closing the front end of a package in different operative positions, Figures 3a... 3f a schematic representation of the front closure to facilitate the understanding of the mode of operation of the device according to Figs. .... . 2f, Figures 4a. . 4d different folded conditions of the wrapping material.

The packing apparatus which is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 1 a and 1 b has a rotary packing conveyor in the form of a turret 1 which is provided with a plurality of chambers 2 and can be driven by a step-by-step drive which is customary in the field of packing machines, e.g., a Geneva movement, not shown, in order to perform advancing steps. The following working stations are adjacent to the turret: A: A feeding station for wrapping material B: A preforming station for wrapping material C: A feeding station for commodities to be packed D and E: Sealing stations for the longitudinal seam of the hose-like wrapping material F: A front end closing station G to I: Sealing stations for sealing of the front end of the finally formed wrapping material K: A removing station for finished packages.

Two advancing rolis 6 draw web-like wrapping material 4 from a reel 3; the leading end of the web 4 is pushed into a guide which consists of two sheet metal guides 7 and 8 and the leading end is severed by a knife 9 which moves toward a counterknife 11 as shown by the double-headed arrow 10. The leading marginal zone 1 2a of the thus formed sheet-like wrapping material section 1 2 is pressed against the holding surface 1 4a of a jaw 1 6a of a shears 1 6 by a pressure applying plunger 1 3 which moves back and forth in directions indicated by a double-headed arrow 15; the other jaw of the shears 1 6 is denoted by the character 1 6b.The jaws 1 6a and 1 6b of the shears 1 6 are respectively pivotable about pins 1 7a and 1 7b so that they can move away from each other for the purpose of opening the shears and toward each other for the purpose of closing.

Fig. 1 shows that a discrete one of the aforementioned shears 1 6 cooperates with each of the twelve illustrated chambers 2.

Details of one pair of folding elements which are constituted by jaws 1 6a, 1 6b can be found in Fig. 1a which will be explained below.

The outer sides of the jaws 1 6a, 1 6b respectively carry triangular folding projections 1 8a, 1 8b which are formed with holding surfaces 1 4a, 1 4b for the end sections 1 2a, 1 2b of wrapping material sections 1 2 and the inner sides of the jaws are formed with holding surfaces 1 9a, 1 9b for the commodities 44. Rounded folding surfaces 21a and 21b are provided in the transition zone between the holding surfaces 14a, 19a and 14b, 19b.

Suction ports 22a and 22b respectively extend to the holding surfaces 14a and 14b. At least the outer regions of the chamber 2 are provided with suction ports 23. The jaws 1 6a and 1 6b are respectively connected with mating gears 24a and 24b. A layer 26 which is provided on the jaw 1 6b carries a roller follower 27 which cooperates with a control cam 29 swingable back and forth by the machine drive in directions indicated by a double-headed arrow 28. When the control cam 29 is moved in clockwise direction, the roller follower 27 causes the lever 26 and the jaw 1 6b to perform a movement which entails an outward movement of the jaw 16b, i.e., it opens in a manner as shown in Fig. la. The gears 24b and 24a transmit such opening movement to the jaw 16a.

Return movement of the jaws 1 6a and 1 6b to closed positions (illustrated at the stations C... I in Fig. 1) is effected by non-illustrated return springs which are respectively secured to the pins 1 7a and 1 7b and whose resetting effect is felt as soon as the control cam 29 is caused to swing in a counterclockwise direction.

Fig. 1 b shows the deepmost portion 2a of a chamber 2 with a back support 39 which constitutes a biasing strip. The back support 39 is secured to a guide rod 31 which is reciprocably mounted in a guide sleeve 32 disposed in the turret 1. The back support 39 is held in the deepmost portion 2a of the chamber 2 by a roller follower 33 which is mounted in the guide rod 31 and a control cam 34 against the action of a compression spring 36. When the control cam 34 is swung in a counterclockwise direction, the roller follower 33 is released so that the compression spring 36 can move the back support 39 from the deepmost portion 2a of the chamber 2 and to yieldably urge the back support against the wrapping material 1 2 or the commodity 44 to be packed in the interior of the chamber.The back support 39 then urges the commodity against the holding surfaces 1 9a and 1 9b (when the shears 1 6 is closed) so that the wrapping material and the commodity are fixedly held in the chamber 2.

During that advancing step of the turret 1 which follows the feeding of wrapping material at the station A, the severed wrapping material section 1 2 which contacts the holding surface 1 4a is withdrawn from the guide 7, 8 so that, when the advancing step is completed, the trailing end 1 2b of the section 1 2 lies against the holding surface 1 4b of the jaw 1 6b of the shears 16.

The wrapping material section 1 2 which is then located at the preforming station B is pushed into the chamber 2 by a ram 41. To this end, the ram 41 performs a back-andforth movement in directions indicated by the double-headed arrow 42. Owing to the shaping movement of the ram 41, the wrapping material section 1 2 in the chamber 2 is imparted a partially cylindrical shape.The still free trailing end of the wrapping material section 1 2 is biased by a folding projection 43 of the ram 41 against the holding surface 1 4b of the jaw 1 6b where it is held by suction air, the same as the leading end on the holding surface 1 4. Deformation of the wrapping material section 1 2 which is effected in the chamber 2 by the ram 41 is maintained by suction ports 23 in the chamber proper.

The commodity 44 to be wrapped is delivered to the turret 1 at the feeding station C.

This commodity consists of a plurality of round or polygonal bakery products which are disposed one behind the other and together constitute a "bar". It is clear that the "bar" to be packed can also consist of other material which need not be subdivided.

Contrary to the illustration of the shears 1 6 at the station C, the admission of commodity to be packed takes place in open positions of the jaws 16a, 1 6b which are moved away from each other for the admitting step in a manner as shown at the stations A and B. The transfer device is disposed behind the turret 1. It consists essentially of a pusher 46 which is indicated by broken lines and is movable back and forth in the axial direction of the commodity 44. For example, the pusher can push commodity 44 into the chamber 2 from a compartmented belt of the type known from the field of packaging foodstuffs. Since the jaws 16a, 1 6b of the shears 1 6 are open during transfer, a back support 47 is moved towards the chamber 2 to support the transferred commodity in the radial direction.The front surface of the back support 47 in the holding position of the latter is indicated by a phantom line. A non-illustrated drive moves the back support 47 at predetermined intervals in directions indicated by the doubleheaded arrow 48 in such a way that the back support is held in the supporting position while the commodity is being transferred whereupon the back support is moved away from the chamber 2 after the jaws 16a, 1 6b of the shears 1 6 assume their closed positions.

During closing of the jaws 16a, 1 6b of the shears 16, the marginal zones 12a, 1 2b of the wrapping material section 1 2 which overlie the holding surfaces 14a, 1 4b slide along such holding surfaces so that, as a result of closing of the shears, the wrapping material is tightly applied around the commodity 44.

This is supported by the resiliently biased back support 39 which is then also pressed radially outwardly and against the commodity 44. At the conclusion of the closing operation, when the wrapping material and the commodity are held by the shears 1 6 and back support 39, the holding air in the holding surfaces 14a, 1 4b is disconnected so that the marginal zones of the wrapping material section 1 2 are released and extend outwardly.

After the turret 1 completes an advancing step, the commodity and the wrapping material reach the sealing station D which is adjacent to stationary closing tongs 49 with heated jaws 49a, 49b. The jaws are movable in the directions which are indicated by a double-headed arrow 51 towards the outwardly extending marginal zones of the wrapping material section 1 2. They press such zones together and thereby seal the zones to each other to thus form a hose consisting of wrapping material and tightly conforming to the commodity. Instead of a sealing operation which presupposes the use of a suitable sealable wrapping material, one can also employ a conventional paster.

After the turret 1 has completed a further advancing step, the commodity with the wrapping material which forms a hose and tightly surrounds the commodity reaches the sealing station E. At this station, there is provided a stationary heated pressing means 52 whose front edge is located closely above the commodity so that it folds the outwardly extending marginal zones of the wrapping material section which were already sealed to each other at the station D while the commodity advances into the station E. As soon as the turret 1 comes to a halt, the pressing means 52 is moved toward and away from the folded-over marginal zones in the direction of the double-headed arrow 53 under the action of a non-illustrated drive.When in the end position nearest to the commodity, the heated pressing means 52 presses against and seals the folded-over marginal zones to the periphery of the tubularly conforming wrapping material.

If the utilized wrapping material is not sealable, here, too, the sealing device can be replaced with a conventional plaster.

After having advanced through the stations A to E, and as already explained hereinabove, the wrapping material is shaped to extend around the commodity in such a way that it forms a tightly adhering hose S whose end portions extend beyond the commodity.

After the turret 1 has completed a further advancing step, the commodity and the hoselike conforming wrapping material reach the front end closing station F at which the ends are sealed at both sides. In this connection, reference will be made to Figs. 2a to 2f as well as to the corresponding description.

As a result of the next-following three advancing steps, the completely folded packages reach the stations G to I at which disc-shaped sealing jaws 54 are pressed against the end faces of the packages during the periods of dwell to thereby attach the overlapping flaps of the wrapping material to each other. The heated sealing jaws 54 are movable towards and away from the end faces of the packages with axially reciprocable plungers 56.

Instead of resorting to a heat-sealing technique, the flaps which overlie each other at the ends can be connected to each other by adhesive.

After completion of two additional advancing steps, the by now finished package reaches the removing station K at which the jaws 1 6a, 1 6b of the shears 1 6 are moved to open positions so that the package can roll downwardly between the parts of a guide 57 and onto a compartmented belt 58. Removal of the finished packages is assisted by the back support 39 which is moved radially outwardly into the chamber 2.

In a manner which will be described below with reference to a discrete commodity and a section of wrapping material, the commodities and sections of wrapping material which are delivered seriatim to the chambers 2 are processed one after the other so that material is continuously delivered to the packing turret 1 and material is continuously removed therefrom.

The device for closing the ends of a package which is shown in Figs. 2a...2f comprises a carrier 101 which consists of a disc 102 and a ring 103, the parts 102 and 103 being held at a fixed distance from each other by braces 104. The carrier 101 is secured to the piston rod 106 of a pneumatic displacing element 107 whose cylinder 108 is fixedly mounted.By controlled activation of the displacing element with compressed air, the piston rod 106 can move the carrier 101 back and forth in directions indicated by a doubleheaded arrow 109, i.e., toward and away from the commodity 44 in the hose S which is formed by the wrapping material section 1 2. At such time, the commodity and the hose S are held in a chamber 2 of the packing turret 1 the details of which are shown in Figs. 1 a and 1 b and which, therefore, are omitted in Figs. 2a...2f for the sake of clarity.

That side of the disc 102 which faces away from the displacing element 107 is secured to a further pneumatic diplacing element 111 only the cylinder 11 2 and the piston rod 113, which latter is non-rotatably guided in the cylinders can actually be seen. Compressed air connections 114 (to move the piston rod 11 3 in the direction of the arrow 11 6) and 11 7 (to move the piston rod 11 3 in the direction of the arrow 118) serve for controlled activation of the displacing element 111 with compressed air.The piston rod 11 3 is connected with a disc-shaped holder 11 9 which carries a star-shaped group of equidistant vanes 121 with forming edges 1 22. The inner diameter of the ring 103 exceeds the diameter of the hoses as well as the diameter of the forming edges 1 22 (the latter form a circle).

The ring 103 carries pivots 1 23 which support folding members 1 24 and are arranged in such a way that each folding member 1 24 can be pivoted inwardly between two vanes 121. For the sake of clarity, only one of the folding members 124, together with a drive 126, is actually shown in the drawing.

However, in actuality, such folding members are distributed along the inner side of the ring 103.

The folding member 1 24 consists of a triangular folding plate 1 27 and a plate-like lever 1 28 which is disposed at right angles to the plate 127. The plate-like lever 128 is articulately (namely, by means of joints 146and 147) connected by a coupling rod 129 with the piston rod 131 of a pneumatic displacing element 1 32 whose cylinder 1 33 is secured to the disc 102. Compressed air connections 1 34 (to move the piston rod 1 31 in the direction of the arrow 136) and 1 37 (movement of the piston rod 1 31 in the direction of the arrow 138) serve for controlled activation of the displacing element 1 32 with compressed air.A ring-shaped tension spring 141 which extends through an eyelet 1 39 of the coupling rod 1 29 is also guided through the eyelets of coupling rods for all other folding members 1 24. The spring 141 acts in such a way that it urges the coupling rods 1 29 inwardly. The periphery of the disc 102 is formed with teeth 142 which mesh with the teeth of a pinion 1 43. The machine drive can rotate the pinion 143 in such a way that the pinion rotates the carrier 101 back and forth in the directions indicated by a double-headed arrow 144 through a predetermined angle.The length of the pinion 143, as considered in the axial direction, is selected in such a way that the teeth 142 of the disc 102 remain in engagement with the pinion 143 during movement of the displacing element 107.

The compressed air connections of the displacing elements 107, 111 and 1 32 can be connected with a source of compressed air by- non-illustrated valves whose mechanical or electrical actuating elements can be operated by cams connected with the machine drive.

The apparatus which is illustrated in Figs.

2a. . 2f serves solely for closing one end face of a package. A similarly designed apparatus, not shown, serves to close the other end face.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 2a...2f for closing of the ends of a package: In connection with description of the mode of operation, reference will be made, in addition to Figs. 2a...2f, also to Figs. 3a...3f which show the different operative positions of the folding plates 1 27 of the folding members 1 24 as well as to different positions of the holder 11 9 with forming edges 1 22. The effects which the individual folding operations produce upon the commodity are illustrated in Figs. 4a . . .4d.

In the description of the mode of operation, the closing of only one end will be described.

The closing of the end at the other side takes place in similar fashion.

In describing the sequence of folding operations, reference will be made first to Fig. 2a which shows the apparatus for closing the ends in starting position. Fig. 3a shows all of the folding plates 127; for the sake of ready recognizability of the overall configuration, the corresponding holder 11 9 is shown separately.

In the first step, the cylinder 108 of the displacing element 107 receives compressed air via compressed air connection 148 in such a way that the piston rod 106 is moved toward the hose S of the wrapper whereby it moves the entire carrier 101 with all folding members 1 24 and their drives 1 26 as well as the holder 11 9 with the forming edges 1 22 toward the hose S. The position which is reached upon completion of such movement is shown in Figs 2b and 3b. In such position, the ring 103 is located substantially at the level of the front end faces 44S of the commodity 44 while the vanes 121 have penetrated into the extension S' of the hose.

All cylinders 1 33 of the drives 1 26 which constitute the displacing elements 1 32 for the folding members 1 24 simultaneously receive compressed air by way of the corresponding compressed air connections 1 37 so that the piston rods 131 are retracted into the cylinders 1 33. The folding members 1 24 turn about the pivots 1 23 by way of the coupling rods 1 29. The pivotal movement is thereby limited by the disc-shaped holder 11 9 so that the plate-like lever 1 28 and the coupling rod 1 29 do not assume their extended positions, i.e., they still make an angle (Figs. 2c, 3c).

The folding plates 127 are simultaneously pressed against the extension S' of the hose whereby the extension S' develops equal sections 1 51 which are equally distributed at the circumference of the front end of the commodity 44 and are at the same time pressed in a direction toward the front end face 44S of the commodity 44. The fold lines 1 52 thereby form generatrices of the frustum of a cone. The folding edges 1 22 ensure that webs 1 53 extend outwardly between the fold lines 1 52 and the outer boundary lines 1 54 of such webs form the generatrices of a second conical frustum.In this manner, the wrapping material of the extension S' is converted into a conical frustum 1 56 with a corrugated surface (Fig. 4b).

The cylinder 11 2 of the displacing element 111 receives compressed air via compressed air connection 11 7 so that the piston rod 11 3 moves the holder 119 with the vanes 121 away from the extension S' of the hose. The disc-shaped holder 11 9 thereby releases the coupling rods 1 29 so that the coupling rods and the plate-like levers 1 28 assume their extended positions (Fig. 2d.In the next step, the compressed air connections 1 34 of the cylinders 1 33 receive compressed air one after the other (the compressed air connections 1 37 are vented in the same sequence) so that the folding plates 127with support from the tension spring 141-successively press the depressed sections 151 of the extension S' of the hose against the end face 44S of the commodity 44 (Figs. 2e, 3d). In this manner, the sections 151 are converted into triangular segments which are adjacent to the commodity 44 and alternate with outwardly extending triangular webs 1 53 of the extension.These webs constitute folded flaps which diverge in a direction toward the center of the end face and have an at least substantially triangular configuration. The longest lateral edges (fold lines 152) of such folded flaps extend substantially in the radial direction of the front end face 44S and are somewhat longer than the radius of the front face.

As a result of placing of successive folding plates 1 27 against the front end face 44S and the aforedescribed formation of segments and folded flaps, the segments resp. the tips of the folded flaps overlap each other; this causes the folded flaps to lie slightly askew with reference to the front end face 44S which is not shown in the drawing. The pinion 1 43 is thereupon caused to rotate whereby it turns the carrier 101 clockwise through a predetermined angle by way of teeth 142 (Figs. 2f, 3e. In this manner, the triangular folded flaps (webs) of wrapping material are folded over in a direction such that they overlap each other adjacent to the front end face of the commodity.Fig. 4d shows that, upon completion of such folding, the tip of each and every folded flap 153 as considered in the direction of folding---over- lies a neighboring folded flap.

Upon completion of such total closing of the front side of the package P, the cylinder 108 of the displacing element 107 is supplied with compressed air via compressed air connection 1 49 in such a way that the piston rod 106 is moved away from the package P to thereby entrain the carrier 101 with the folding members 1 24 and their drives 1 26 as well as the holder 11 9. The pinion 143 is thereby driven to rotate in the opposite direction so that the carrier 101 is rotated counterclockwise back to its starting position by way of the teeth 142 on the disc 102.

Simultaneously with movement of the carrier 101 away from the package P and its rotation back to starting position, the compressed air connections 1 37 of the cylinders 1 33 in all displacing elements 1 32 receive compressed air (the compressed air connec tions 1 34 are vented) so that the piston rods 131 are retracted and the folding members 1 24 are pivoted, by way of the coupling rods 129, back to the positions corresponding to those shown in Fig. 2d.In the next step, the compressed air connection 114 of the displacing element 111 receives compressed air (the compressed air connection 11 7 is vented at the same time) so that the piston rod 11 3 and the holder 1 19 move in the direction of the arrow 11 6. The circumferential edge of the holder 11 9 thereby presses the coupling rods 1 29 outwardly against the opposition of the spring 141 (to a position corresponding to that of Fig. 2c) which is made possible by venting of the compressed air connections 1 37 of the displacing elements 1 32. Immediately thereafter, the compressed air connections 1 34 of the displacing elements 1 33 are again connected with the source of compressed air so that the piston rods 131 pivot the folding members 1 24 back to their starting positions (Figs. 2a, 3f) by way of the coupling rods 129.

In the meantime, the completely folded package P in a chamber 2 of the packing turret 1 has advanced into the range of the first sealing station G, as considered in the direction of transport, wherein the overlapping parts of the wrapper (folded flaps 153) are connected to each other by heat-sealing.

As shown in Fig. 4d, the closure at the front end of the finished package P is quite uniform owing to the regularly formed folded flaps which overlie each other in an imbricated pattern so that the appearance of the front end is esthetically satisfactory.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1. A method of closing the front end face of a package consisting of a round or polygonal commodity to be wrapped, especially a commodity which consists of a plurality of similar pieces of bakery products, and consisting of wrapping material which forms a hose and surrounds the periphery of the commodity and extends beyond the front end face of the commodity by a distance exceeding the radius of the hose, by successive folding and superimposing of segments of the extending hose portion and by connecting of the superimposed segments to each other, wherein identical sections of the hose extension which are equally distributed along the periphery of the front end face of the commodity are simultaneously pressed in a direction toward the front end face of the commodity and to such an extent that the fold lines form generatrices of a first conical frustum whereby webs project outwardly between the fold lines and the outer marginal edges of such webs form generatrices of a more pointed second conical frustum whereby the extending wrapping material is converted into a conical frustum with a corrugated surface, that the depressed sections are thereupon pressed against the front end face of the commodity, one after the other, with attendant formation of triangular segments which lie against the commodity and between which webs, which at such time also exhibit a triangular shape, extend outwardly, and the triangular webs are thereupon folded in a direction such that they overlap each other adjacent to the front end face of the commodity.

2. Method according to claim 2, wherein the overlapping sections of wrapping material are attached to each other, preferably by heatsealing.

3. Method according to claim 1 and/or 2, wherein depression of several sections of the hose extension, which sections are uniformly distributed at the periphery of the front end face of the commodity, takes place between guide edges to thereby form the webs, and that the guide edges are removed from the hose subsequent to formation of the conical frustum with an undulated surface.

4. Method according to one or more preceding claims, wherein the commodity and the wrapping material are transported along a preferably circular wrapping path and the closing of the front end face of the package takes place during the interval of dwell between two transporting steps.

5. Apparatus for closing the front end face of a package consisting of a round or polygonal commodity, especially a commodity consisting of a plurality of similar pieces of bakery products, and consisting of a wrapping material which forms a hose surrounding the periphery of the commodity and extends beyond the front end face of the commodity by a distance exceeding the radius of the hose, with folding means for successive folding and superimposing of segments of the extension of the hose, especially for the practice of the method according to one or more preceding claims, characterized by the provision of a plurality of folding members which are concentric with reference to the longitudinal axis of the commodity and are equidistant from each other and are pivotable about pins which are parallel with or are located in the plane of the front end face of the commodity, by the provision of drive means for the folding mem: bers which drive means pivot the folding members about the pivot axes in such a way that the extension of the hose is depressed in a direction toward the front end face of the commodity through less than 90 whereupon the drive means serially pivot the folding members against the front end face of the commodity so as to form at the commodity triangular segments of wrapping material with triangular webs extending outwardly between the segments, and by the provision of further drive means for pivoting of the folding members about the longitudinal axis of the commodity so as to fold the webs in a direction such that they overlap each other adjacent to the front end face of the commodity.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the drive means for the folding members simultaneously pivot the folding members about the pivot axes to thus depress the extension of the hose.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 and/or 6, characterised by an attaching device especially a heat-sealing device, for the overlapping sections of wrapping material.

8. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims 5 to 7, wherein forming edges are secured to a holder with a drive which moves the forming edges prior to depression of hose sections in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the commodity and into the extension of the hose to positions which correspond to those of the subsequently formed webs.

9. Apparatus according to one or more preceding claims 5 to 8, characterised by a packing conveyor especially a conveyor which constitutes a turret, which can be driven in stepwise fashion and has chambers for commodities and wrapping material and by a stationary arrangement of folding members and holders for the forming edges with respect to the packing conveyor.

10. Package for round or polygonal cylindrical commodities, especially a commodity consisting of a plurality of similar pieces of bakery products, with wrapping material which surrounds the commodity and is closed at one front end face of the commodity by overlapping folded-over sections, wherein the sections of the package, which is preferably made in accordance with the preceding method and/or apparatus claims, are at least substantially identical triangular folded flaps (webs) which extend at equal distances from the periphery of the front end face of the commodity and diverge in a direction toward the centre of the front end face, and whose longest marginal edges extend substantially in the radial direction of the front end face and are somewhat longer than the radius of the front end face so that the tip of each folded flap, as considered in the direction of folding, overlies an adjacent folded flap.

11. Package according to claim 10, wherein the overlapping parts of the wrapper are connected to each other, especially by heat-sealing.

1 2. A method of closing the front end face of a package consisting of a round or polygonal commodity to be wrapped, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 3. Apparatus for closing the front end face of a package consisting of a round or polygonal commodity, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.