US1544171A - Confectionery-wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1925.

F. F. PEASE 'CONFECTIONERY WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1921 4 sheets-Sheet 1 VIIXCD\ June 30, 1925.

F. F. PEASE CONFECTI ONERY WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1925. 1,544,171

F. F. PEASE GONFECTIONERY WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 30, 1925.

F. F. PEASE CONFECTIONERY WRAPPING MACHINE 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 21 Patented June 30, 1925.

UNlTED STATES PATENT orrlce.

FRED FORREST PEASE, OF EAST BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO F. IE.

PEASE INC., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CONFECTIONERY WRAPPING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED FORREST PEASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Braintree, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Confectionery-Wrapping Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to machines for handling and wrapping articles and more particularly to machines of this character adapted for wrapping candy.

Large quantities of candy known as suckers and lollypops are manufac tured and sold and it is the object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved type of machine for handling and for wrapping this form of candy neatly and at a high rate of speed.

-VVith this object in view one feature of the present invention contemplates the provision of a forming plate through which,

the article to be wrapped is passed, this plate having a plurality of fingers which cooperate to lay the wrapper smoothly about the article without liability of tearing or breaking the wrapper. According to the present invention forming plates for different sized suckers are made interchangeable and are mounted in such a manner that they may be readily removed and replaced by others with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

A further feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a plurality'of wiper fingers which are adapted to engage with the wrapper after it has been folded onto the candy and wrapping the projecting ends of the wrapper closely about the handle or stick on which the candy is formed.

Another feature of the invention contemplates the provision of improved mechanism for automatically feeding the wrap per in predetermined lengths into a position where it may be engaged by the article and folded thereover.

Still further features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts designed to insure the automatic handling and delivery Application filed June 21, 1921. Serial No. 479,411.

of the articles of confection and the wrappers to and from the wrapping mechanism. In connection with the foregoing features it should be understood by those skilled in the art that certain of the features of construction are applicable to a variety of articles which it is desired to wrap quickly and uniformly and, accordingly, the present invention as to these features-is notlimited to the type ofmachine disclosed in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section of a machine for handling and wrapping candy; Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating a part of the mechanism for feeding candy successively to the wrapping mechanism; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating a section of the centering device, forming plate, and Wiper fingers for folding the Wrapper about the candy; Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the clutch for engaging the handle during the wrapping operation; Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating a top plan view of the forming plate and certain of the cooperating parts; Fig. 7 is a detail illustrating a plan View of the forming plate; Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating a plan view of the wiper fingers; Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating a section of the mechanism for automatically severing the desired length of wrapping paper; Fig. 10 is a detail illustrating a side elevation of the mechanism forserving the wrapping paper automatically; Fig. 11 is a detail illustrating a top plan view of the centering chute for the candy; Fig. 12 is a detail illustrating a plan View of the fingers for centering the candy withrelation to the traveling plunger; and Fig. 13 is a detail illustrating a plan view of the wrapper en gaging rolls for holding the wrapper during the operation of the wiper fingers.

According to the present invention, as disclosed in the drawings, lollypops or similar articles are successively fed by a conveyor to a positioning member which controls and centers the articles with relation to the wrapping mechanism. Thereafter the lollypop when so positioned is positively engaged and thrust downwardly through a forming plate upon which a wrapper of the desired size is placed. The movement of the lollypop through the forming plate causes'the Wrapper to be folded smoothly and uniformly about the candy without liability of tearing or breaking. During the continued 3 downward movement of the lollypop with the wrapper folded thereabout the candy passes within a series of revolving wiper fingers which are moved inwardly by automatic mechanism to engage with the projecting ends of the wrapper and close these ends inwardly about the projecting handle or stick. At the completion of this movement the articles are discharged from the machine and into any conveniently located receptacle.

Upon referring to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the lollypops or other articles are initially deposited upon a conveyor indicated at 10 which consists of a series of links 12 each having a depression 13 shaped to receive and hold the candy indicated at ll. This conveyor chain at one end passes over a pulley consisting of two disks 15 and 16 connected by transverse members 18 which engage between the links 12 to feed the conveyor chain as indicated. The conveyor chain is operated in timed relation to the wrapping mechanism in order to deliver successive lollypops to the wrapping mechanism at predetermined intervals. To this end the driving pulley is mounted upon a shaft 20 provided with a spur gear 22 which meshes with a driving gear 23 mounted upon a shaft 24 with a driving ratchet indicated at 26. The driving ratchet is operated intermittently and in timed relation with a plunger 30 which controls the movements of the lollypop through the wrapping mechanism. This plunger, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, has a collar 32 attached adjacent to the upper end which is connected to a link 33 having its opposite end pivoted upon the shaft 24. This link 33 carries an operating pawl 35 which engages with notched recesses 36 formed in the periphery of the ratchet disk 26 to advance the latter, together with the conveyor chain, intermittently. It will be evident from an inspection of the drawings that each advancing movement of the ratchet disk 26 advances the conveyor pulley through one-sixth of a revolution, which movement is sufiicient to bring successive supporting links 12 into the inclined position of delivery indicated in Fig. 1. The lollypops are successively delivered from the conveyor chain, when the respective supporting links reach the delivery position shown, into a chute 40 shown more particularly in Fig. 4. The chute 40 comprises two oppositely inclined troughs 41 and 43 which are secured upon the stationary arm 42 and cooperate to deliver the candy in substantially the proper relation to the wrapping mechanism. After being discharged from the lower end of the chute 10, the lollypop is accurately centered by a plurality of yielding centering fingers, as shown in Figs. 4 and 12 particularly. These centering lingers comprise essentially overlying disks 44 and 45 of leather or similar material which have their inner edges scalloped or serrated, as indicated in the drawings, to provide a series of overlapping fingers 46 which encompass a relatively small central opening. The outer edges of the leather disks 44 and 45 are clamped between metallic holding rings 200 and 201 which are supported upon a plurality of standards 203. Interposed between the metallic rings and the edges of the disks are rings 205 of felt, or similar material. The lowermost ring 205 is in addition provided with inwardly extending" curved lips 206, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12, which form an additional support for the lowermost leather disk 45 and serve to aid in the movement of the fingers back to normal position after the lollypop has passed therethrough. The combination of the leather and felt disks in this manner is quite important as it is necessary to permit the passage of the lollypop therebetween without substantial impedance and to thereafter close about the handle of the lollypop'to center the latter with relation to the holding clutch. Inasmuch as the movement of the lollypop through the machine is quite rapid, it is necessary that this snap-back of the centering fingers should'take place without any loss of time after the large end of the lollypop has passed therethrough. In order to permit the downward movement of the plunger support carrying the lollypop through the centering fingers, the metal rings supporting the leather disks are cut away as shown at 210 to permit the passage of a supporting arm downwardly therethrough. After being discharged downwardly through the centering fingers, the large end of the lollypop is engaged and held in central position between a series of fingers 50 which are loosely pivoted at 51 upon a frame 54: and are normally moved inwardly to yieldingly engage the large end of the lollypop therebetween by light springs 55, as shown in Fig. 1. Immediately after the lollypop has been dropped into the position shown in which it is centered by the fingers 50 with the handle or stick projecting upwardly, a clutch member 60 is moved downwardly to engage and grip the upper end of the handle. This clutch member, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5, comprises cooperating pivoted clutch dogs 62 and 63 between which the handle is thrust upwardly by the downward movement of v3, this arm together with the the clutch, these members serving to gri the handle in such a .manner that the lollypop is firmly held during the continued advancing movement of the clutch. The clutch member 60 is' provided with a threaded stem 65 which is connected to the outer end of an arm 66 extending laterally from the collar 32, as indicated in Fig. collar being moved in accordance with the movements of the operating plunger 30. The threaded stem 65 of the clutch head is enclosed at its upper portion by a sleeve 67 After the clutch has engaged with the handle of the lollypop the continued. downward movement of the carrier mechanism passes the lollypop through a wrapper forming plate. To this end a forming plate indicated at 70 is located in the path of the lollypop and is provided witlr'an opening in the central portion through which the lollypop may pass. This forming plate is provided with a series of downwardly projecting yielding fingers 7 2 which are separated from one another by elongated openings 7 5, as indicated clearly in Fi 7. When the lollypop is thrust throng the substan tially rectangular opening. encompassed by the fingers 72, carrying with it a wrapper which has been previously laid upon the top of the forming plate, the wrapper is neatly and smoothy folded about the body of the lollypop without breaking or tearing. The particular arrangement of the yielding fingers separated from one another by the openings is of great importance in securing this smooth enveloping of the article as the yeilding fingers smoothly press the wrapper against the faces of the article while the openings 75 permit the folding of the wrapper without liability of tearing or breaking. As will be clearly observed fromv an inspection of Fig. 4 the forming plate is of circular form and is mounted in a supporting ring secured to the machine frame in any desired manner. The forming plate lies within an annular recess 81 formed in the upper face of the ring, and when it is desired to wrap articles of different shape or size, the forming plate may be readily removed and replaced by one having the desired size or shape of opening. In order to facilitate this interchange of forming plates the ring 80 is provided with a hub 82 which is clamped by a set screw 83 to a bearing member 128 projecting upwardly from the machine frame. It will be observed that by loosening the set screw the ring and forming plate carried therein may be swung laterally into a position where a new forming plate may be readily inserted.

' After the passage of the lollypop or similar article through the forming plate the wrapper is caused to envelop the article in wrapper and avoid the necessity of tying the ends of the wrapper. of the wrapping operation is conveniently accomplished in the present invention by a series of wiper fingers which are adapted to revolve about the handle and wra This completion The wiper fingers 90 are provided with curved wiping faces 92 and are pivoted at their outer ends 93 upon a revolving support 94, which, as shown clearly in Fig. 4,- is in the form of a cup or bowl mounted upon anti-frictionsbearings 95 for rotation within a housing 96. During the rotation of the support 94 the inner ends of the wiper fingers are normally thrown out under the action of centrifugal force, permitting the large end of the lollypop to pass freely therethrough. Inorder to cause these wiping fingers to automatically engage with the Wrapper and wind it about the stick after the end of the lollypop has passed therethrough, mechanism is provided for automatically moving thefingers inwardly and causing them to rotate about and yieldingly engage with the wrapper. in and out movements of the wiping fingers are controlled by 'a ring having an inclined annular face 102 which engages with a series of rolls 103 journaled respectively adjacent the pivotal connection of each of the wiper fingers. This controlling ring is connected with a forked arm 105 having plungers 106 at the outer ends which engage within an annular groove 108 formed in the outer periphery of the ring. The forked arm 105 is pivoted upon the machine frame at 110 and is moved downwardly at a predetermined time to cause an inward movement of the wiper arms with a consequent wrapping operation. In order to accomplish this automatic control the arm 66, which is connected to and operates the clutch 60, is provided with a spring pressed detent which is adapted to engage with the laterally turned end of a bracket 116 mounted upon the forked arm 105, as shown in Fig. 3. When the plunger carrying the lollypop has reached substantially the limit of its downward movement, bringing the latter into substantially the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, this spring detent 115 engaging with the bracket 116 yieldingly depresses the forked arm 105 together withthe ring 100 causing an inward movement of the wiper arms which is sufficient in extent to bring these arms into the approximate position shown in Fig. 8, in which position the wrapper is wound tightly about the handle the 'loose ends of the paper closely therea ut.

To this end the Hit of the lollypop while this handle is firmly engaged by the holding clutch. After the pressure of the spring detent 115 upon the bracket 116 has been relieved due to the upward movement of the arm, the centrifugal force of the wiper arms is sufiicient to elevate the controlling ring and the arms so that the wiper arms may move outwardly to normal position. In order that there may be no possibility of slipping the wrapper about the lollypop during the engagement of the wiper fingers with the upper portion, mechanism is provided for Vieldiuo'lv engaging with the wrapper adjacent the upper portion of the body of the lollvnou in a manner to hold the wrapper in place and prevent the wiper fingers from twisting or turning the wrapper upon the lollypop. To this end a plurality of wrapper engaging rolls,

as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 13, are disposed about the lollypop in a manner to engage with the wrapper during the wiping operation. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention four felt rolls 220 are loosely journaled upon the upper ends of spring arms 222, the arms being connected at their lower ends to a plate 223 secured to the stationary housings. It will be evident from an inspection of the drawings that during the downward passage of the lollypop the supporting arms 222 yield outwardly and the felt rolls ride over the wrapper with a yielding engagement. During the action of the wiper fingers these rolls, through their engagement with the wrapper, hold it against the lollypop and prevent a bodily turning movement of the wrapper as a whole during the wiping operation.

After the plunger has reached the limit of its downward movement and the wiping of the wrapper about the handle has been substantially completed, the holding clutch 66 is automatically opened to discharge the iinished lollypop through the central opening 117 formed in the revolving support. To this end a knock-off projection 118 is mounted on the base of the frame 51, as shown in Fig. 3, and engages with an arm 121 projecting from the clutch dog 63 to open the clutch and discharge the lollypop as soon as the upward movement of the plunger and clutch carried thereby commences. It will be observed that the knockoff member 118 is so designed with relation to the handle 121 that the latter may move by the knock-oil during the continued downward movement of the plunger. The vertical reciprocatory movements of the plunger 30 to control the movements of the lollypop together with the feeding mechanism are accomplished by a crank 120 which is connected to a large gear 122 mounted in the base of the machine. The gear 122 is operated from the main drive shaft 121 through a small drive pinion 125, thus causing the reciprocatory movement of the plunger 30 to be relatively slow. As observed from Fig. 3, this plunger is slidingly supported in bearings 126 and 128 forming a part of the machine frame. The rotary support carrying the wiper fingers is constantly rotated during the operation of the machine at high speed by a driving belt 135 engaging with a peripheral groove 136 in the support and driven from a drive pulley 138 which in turn is operated from the main drive shaft through a large gear 140 and a small gear 142.

The paper or similar material which may be employed for wrapping the lollypops is conveniently fed automatically to the forming plate through which the lollypops sucsessively pass. To this end the paper in the form of a roll 140 is loosely supported by a swinging arm 141 pivoted at its upper end from a stationary table or part of the machine frame 146.

The paper or other wrapping material is drawn from the roll 140 by two sets of upper and lower feed rolls indicated at 150, 152, 156 and 158, respectively, these feed rolls being journaled in oppositely disposed bearing plates 160. The two sets of feed rolls acting in conjunction serve to deliver the paper substantially to the position shown in Fig. 4 where a predetermined length is severed by cutting shears. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the cutting mechanism comprises a stationary shear 162 which cooperates with a movable shearing blade 163. The movable blade is pivoted at 164 and is normally retained in an inoperative position by a spring 165. The operation of this blade at predetermined intervals is accomplished by a link 166 connecting theiblade with an operating arm 167 which is pivoted to the machine frame at 168 and is adapted to be engaged at its opposite end by a projection 169 mounted upon the operating plunger. As the plunger descends, the lug 169, through its engagement with the free end of the operating arm 167, depresses the link 166and the shearing blade 163 to sever the paper. After the passage of the lug 16'.) thereby. the arm 167 is returned to the position shown by a spring 170 and the shearing blade 163 is returned by the spring 165. In order to permit the return of the arm 167 independently of the link 166, the latter is provided upon its lower end with a head 172 having an elongated slot 173 formed therein, wiich is normally engaged at its lower end by the arm 167 to depress the shearing blade 163 but which is designed to permit an upward movement of the arm 167 without causing a like movement of the link 166 and the shearing blade connected thereto. It will be obvious that with this construction the strip of wrapping paper is automatically severed in predetermined lengths and in timed relation to the wrapping of the lollypop. In order to prevent the wrapping paper from being accidentally wound about the feed rolls, deflector members 175 and 176 are interposed in the space between the two sets of feed rolls and a guide member 178 is mounted back of the movable shearing blade 163 to guide the strip of paper across the edge 0 the stationary lower blade 162. The feed rolls are intermittently operated from a gear 180 mounted upon the shaft 24, this gear meshing with a smaller gear 182 which carries a sprocket 184 operating a chain 185 which drives smaller sprockets 186 and 187 connected respectively with the lower feed rolls 152 and 156.

It will be obvious that the above described construction constitutes an efficient and practical construction for wrapping lollypops and similar articles at a high rate of speed, the feeding and control of both the wrapping material and the articles to be wrapped being automatic and not requiring the constant attention and supervision of a skilled operator.

1 claim 1. A. machine for wrapping candy supported upon a stick comprising a vertically movable plunger, means for successively delivering candy to a position beneath the plunger and in timed relation to the movements of the plunger, a wrapping member having an opening through which the candy is forced by the downward movement of the plunger, means for delivering a sheet of wrapping material above the wrapping member, means for operating the plunger to force the candy downwardly through the 0 611111 in the wra in member and cause the sheet of wrapping material to be laid thereabout, and means for discharging the candy at the completion of the wrapping operation.

2. A machine for wrapping candy supported upon a stick comprising a vertically movable plunger, means for successively delivering candy to a position beneath the plunger and in timed relation-to the movements of the plunger, a wrapping member having an opening through which the candy is forced by the downward movement of the plunger, means for delivering a sheet of wrapping material above the wrapping member, means for operating the plunger to force the candy downwardly through the opening in the wrapping member and cause the sheet of wrapping material to be laid thereabout, and means located beneath the wrapping member and designed to engage the wrapper above the candy and to Wipe the wrapper about the stick.

3. A machine for wrapping candy supported upon a stick which comprises a vertically movable plunger designed to engage and retain the stick, means for delivering candy successively to a position beneath the plunger with the stick uppermost and in a position to be engaged thereby upon downward movement of the plunger, a wrapping member having an opening through which the candy is forced by the downward movement of the plunger, -means for delivering a sheet of Wrapping material toa position above the. openlng, means for operating the plunger to force the candy downwardly through the opening to cause the sheet of wrapping material to be laid thereabout, means locatedbeneath the wrapping member for wiping the sheet of wrapping material about the stick, and means for preventing turning movements of the candy during the wiping operation. i. A lollypop wrapping machine comprising a vertically reciprocating plunger adapted to engage the stick of the lollypop, means for delivering lollypops successively to a position beneath the plunger, centering devices through which the plunger is adapted to pass for centering the stick, a wrapping mechanism, and means for actuating the plunger to carry the lollypop through the wrapping mechanism.

5. A wrapping machine comprising a plurality of wiper fingers, a wrapper forming plate, meansfor passing an article of candy supported upon a stick successively through the wrapper forming plate and between the fingers, a support for the fingers, means for rotating the support in such .a manner that the fingers are normally maintained in an outward inoperative position, a roll mounted upon each finger, and a controlling disk operated at the proper point oi motion of the candy through the ma chine for engaging the rolls on the wiper fingers to move the latter inwardly and wipe the wrapper about the stick.

6. A wrapping machine comprising a stationary wrapping disk adapted to fold a wrapper about articles of candy passed therethrough, and a support within which the wrapping disk is detachably mounted, the support being adapted to move into a position in which the wrapping disk may be readily removed therefro i A wrapping machine comprising a wrapper forming plate through which an article of candy supported upon a stick is.

caused to pass, a revolving support, a series of wiper fingers carried by the support and normally adapted to remain in ouitward position, and a ring having an inclined face adapted to engage the wiper fingers after the passage of the candy therethrough to give a wrapping motion about the stick.

8. A machine for wrapping an article of candy supported upon a stick comprising a wrappingmechanism, means for feeding the candy to the wrapping mechanism,

yielding means for engaging the candy, flexible centering devices for engag ng the stick-preparatory to engagement with the feeding means, and means for discharging the candy after the wrapping operation.

9. A wrapping machine comprising a plurality of wiper fingers; means for passing an article of candy supported upon a stick between the fingers, means for causing the fingers to normally engage with the wrapper and wind it about the stick, centrifugal means for normally retaining the fingers in an inoperative position, and means for moving the fingers into operative relation to Wind a wrapper about the stick at a predetermined point in the passage of the candy therebetween.

10. A wrapping machine comprising a, plurality of wiper fingers, means for revolving the fingers in a circular path, means for supporting the fingers in a manner to permit the fingers to normally move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force into an inoperative position during the revolving movement, and means acting automatically for moving the fingers toward one another into an operative position at a predetermined point in the operation of the machine.

11. A wrapping machine comprising a stationary wrapper forming plate, a plurality of revolving wiper fingers located beneath the plate and normally held in inoperative position by centrifugal force, means for advancing candy supported upon a stick successively through the plate and between the fingers, and mechanism for automatically actuating the fingers in a manner to engage with and wipe the wrapper about the stick at a predetermined point in the passage of thecandy there-through.

12. A wrapping machine comprising flexible centering devices for an article of candy supported upon a stick, a stationary wrapper forming plate, and a plurality of revolving wiper fingers supported in alignment with the centering devices, means for advancing the candy in a straight line path substantially through the centering devices, wrapper forming plate and wiper fingers, and means for actuating the fingers to wipe a wrapper about the stick at apredetermined point in the passage of the candy therethrough.

13. A lollypop wrapping machine comprising a centering device having yielding members for engaging the candy and flexible members for engaging the stick of the lollypop, a reciprocating plunger having means or engaging the stick when centered, a wrapper forming plate, a series of wrapper fingers located beneath the wrapper forming plate adapted normally to allow the passage of the candy therethrough in close engagement with the stick to wipe the wrapper thereon, yielding means for holding the wrapper about the body of the candy during the wiping operation, and means for discharging the candy after the wiping operation.

14. A wrapping machine comprising a series of revolving wiper fingers adapted to engage with a wrapper laid about an article of candy supported on a stick, means for revolving the fingers, a reciprocating plan er for advancing the candy through the fingers, and a plurality of yieldingly mounted rolls for engaging with the Wrapper to prevent turning movements of the candy during the wiping operation.

15. A wrapping machi-ne for wrapping articles of candy supported upon astick comprising a feeding plunger, clutch mechanism adapted to engage and hold the stick, means for automatically delivering candy into a position to be engaged by the clutch member, centering means through which the candy passes for centering the stick, and wrapping mechanism operating in timed relation to the movements of the feeding plunger.

16. A machine for wrapping articles of candy supported upon a stick comprising a wrapping member having an opening extending downwardly therethrough, means for delivering a sheet of wrapping material to a position above the opening in the wrapping member, revolving Wiper mechanism located beneaththe opening in the wrapping member and aligned therewith,mechanism for successively passing articles of candy supported upon a stick downwardly through the opening to lay the wrap ing material thereabout, the movements of the candy being in timed relation to the delivery of the wrapping material and the operation of the revolving wiper mechanism, means for retaining the candy against turning movements during the wiping operation, and means for discharging the candy at the completion of the operation.

17. A wrapping machine comprising centering devices, including a plurality of flexible disks of leather or similar material having overlying fingers separated from one another by flexible rings, and means for feeding articles of candy successively to the centering devices.

18. A wrapping machine comprising a link conveyor, centering devices, mechanism for operating the conveyor to feed articles of candy successively to the centering devices, wrapping mechanism, and means for feeding articles of candy located by the centering devices through the wrapping mechanism.

19. A wrapping machine comprising a series of revolving wiper fingers adapted to engage with a wrapper laid about an article of candy supported upon a stick, means for revolving the fingers, mechanism for engaging and holding the stick, and a plurality of members yie'ldingly engaging with the wrapper adjacent the body of the. candy to prevent bodily turning movements of the candy during the wiping operation.

20. A machine for wrapping an article of candy supported upon a stick comprising a conveyor for successively delivering such articles a flexible centering device through which the candy passes and adapted to engage the stick, a plurality of yielding fingers for engaging the body of the candy while the stick is centered, a reciprocating plunger having a clutch for engaging the stick when centered and adapted to move downwardly through the centering device, means for delivering wrappers beneath the body of the candy, a plurality of wrapper fingers normally retained in outward position to allow the candy to pass downwardly therethrough, means acting in timed relation to the motion of the candy to close the wiper fingers about the stick to lay the wrapper thereon, and

means for discharging the stick from the 2 clutch after the wiping operation.

FRED FORREST PEASE.

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