US1653880A - Wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1927.

E. L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Mayv 21, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l YIY ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1927. v 1,653,880 r 5. L. SMITH ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 21. 1923 I 4 Sheets-She a 2 INVENT OR zwzw 60 ATTORN EYS Dec. 27, 1927. 1,653,880

' E. L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR @JW 7% W ATTORNEYS Dec, 27, 1927. 1,653,880

E. L. SMITH ET AL.

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES M5333 PATENT OFFICE? ELMER I}. SMITH AND FREDERIC B. FULLER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHU 'SET'IS, AS.-

SIGNORS TO PACKAGE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SPBINGFIELD,;MASSACHUSETTS, v

A CORPORATION 01? MASSACHUSETTS.

WRAPPING mscnmn.

Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to wrapping machines, and has for its object more particularly the design and construction of a machine forthe' wrapping of such soft and fri- 6 able material as blocks of compressed yeast. Among the further objects aimed at in the present invention may be mentioned the provision of suitablemechanism for automatically feeding, separating, wrapping, and to delivering the blocks of yeast without exerting thereon distorting pressure or disintegrating friction whereby said blocks may be uniformly delivered in a snugly wrapped condition without crumbling or waste.

vide means for tightly holding the overlapped portions of the wrapper in place and to this end the machine is designed to fold as a final operation the overlapping end extensions of the-wrapper against the end of the wrapped package. Then by heat sealing said final end folds an exceptionally smooth and securely wrapped package maybe obtained.

Further advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of the invention.

' Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the entire machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the line 2-2" of -*Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the line 22 with portions omitted for clearness;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the reciprocatory supporting devices looking towards the right in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a detail of a wrapper nipper;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the coaction of the longer, pocket bottom and transfer mem er;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of a portion of the pocket bottom and end folder;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan at the end of the feed table and transfer member;

Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are detail views showing in side elevation the successive positions of said feed table in depositing a block of yeast upon the transfer member and the action of the back stop in connection therewith; Y

1923. Serial No. 640,629.

Fig. 12 is a diagram to illustrate the fourwaiy movement of theifeed table;

ig. 13 is a detail of the tumble wheel pocket arriving at its discharging position; Fig. 14. is a similar view showing the discharge of a partially wrapped block from: said tumble wheel pocket;

Fig. 15 is a similar view in perspective to illustrate the making of the last end fold;

Fig. 16 is an end view of the delivery table taken on the line 1616 of Fig. 14:.

Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 are views of the block of yeast and wrapper in successive A stages of the wrapping operation; 15 particular purpose of the invention is to pro- Fig. 22 shows in perspective the complete- 1y wrapped block;

Fig. 23 is a further detail in side elevation of the action of the folding devices shown in Fig. 20, and

Fig. 24: is a side elevational view of the folding mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the main frame of the machine is indicated at 1. The design of the machine preferably is such that substantially all of the driving and operating mechanism for the different moving parts of the machine are located at one side of the upper'and lower beams 2 and 3 of said main frame 1 (at the left viewing, Fig. 2) and the various elements and devices for handling the block of yeast and wrapper are at the other side (at the right viewing Fig. 2) of said longitudinal beams 2 and 3. The devices for acting upon the block of yeast and wrapper in its passage through the machine will first be described, and subsequently thereto, the actuating mechanism for said devices will be de cribed.

Referring to Fig. 1, a feed table 15 indicated at 4. and actuating mechanism for said feed table is provided to give the same a four-way movement in a path diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 12 between stationary'side bars 5 fixed to. the main frame. It will be understood that a column or series of yeast. blocks are in juxtaposition upon the permit the passage therethrough of a rearwardly extended portion 7 of the feed table 4. 8 indicates flexible side guides attached to the rear of said stationary bars 5 and having forwardly flaring portions as shown, so as to present a contracting throat for guiding the yeast blocks in their travel to the transfer member 6.

The transfer member 6 is reciprocably mounted on the main frame for up and down movement in an oblique path relative to said feed table, and for this purpose, is provided at its lower portion with a cylindrical sleeve 9 slidably guided upon a fixed rod 10, the latter being fixed at its upper and lower ends in brackets 12 and 12' respectively of the main frame. A square portion 13 of said transfer member is guided for sliding movement between the side plates 14 and 15 fixed to the main frame whereby said transfer member 6 is prevented from turning on its uide rod 10. g

e transfer member 6 elevates the blocks of yeast one by one to a position in front of a tumble wheel 16 for insertion therein by mechanism to be described. For receiving the separate blocks of yeast from the feed table the transfer member is in its lower osition as shown in Fig. 1, and in order to insure the feeding of blocks which may vary slightly in width upon said transfer member by the feed table, the latter is preferably actuated so as to tend to overcarry the block of yeast slightly beyond said transfer member. For aligning the block upon the transfer member and preventing the overcarrying thereof, a back stop 17 is rovided which j is pivoted at 18, as shown in i s. 1, 10, and 11. A tail portion 19 of said ack stop is rovided with an adjustable screw stud 20 or abutting against a pin 21 carried by said transfer member when the latter is in its lower receiving position and thus locate said back stop in rigidl held position at the rear side of said trans er member. A spring 22 is connected between said main frame and said back stop tending to turn the same counterclockwise and a second tail portion 23 extends from said back stop for abutment against pin 24 to limit the clockwise movement of said back sto It is desirable in handling such friable materials as yeast to avoid frictional rubbing contact of the same in the machine. For this purpose, the feed table is given its four-waymovement to lift, carry forward, and then lower the several blocks along said bars 5, and likewise deposit the same upon said transfer member 6. The back stop 17 serves to accurately align the block of yeast upon said transfer member and the overthrow movement of said feed table serves to press the block with slight, but not'crushing, pressureagainst said back stop 17 to insure this alignment. The feed table 4 preferably consists of a horizontally extending bar on rried on a swinging frame 25 having vertically depending links 26 pivotally connected to a supplemental swinging frame 27. A spring 28 connects the swinging links 26 with said frame 27 to yieldingly hold said links 26 in vertical position against a stop 8 fixed to said frame 27. The supplemental frame 27 is iven a four-way movement by mechanism ereinafter described, and the supporting frame 25 tends to partake of this same movement, but in carrying a block of yeast against the back sto 17, said frame 25 and table 4 may yield bac wardly in a direction opposite to the feeding movement, by reason of the swinging link 26 and spring 28, as shown, so as not to unduly crush or force the block of yeast against said back stop 17. As soon as the transfer member 6 starts upon its elevating movement, the back stop 17 1s immediately withdrawn from contact with the block, which movement takes place by reason of the oblique travel of said transfer member head 6.in engagement with said back stop 17 The tumble wheel 16 is provided with oppositely located pockets 29 of the usual character having side folding walls 30, as shown in Fig. 5, and fixed end folding blades 31. Slidably mounted in each pocket is a bottom 32 and 32', and the bottoms of 0ppositely located pockets are preferably connected together by diametrically extending rod.33. In order to permit slight movement of each pocket independent of the other, for a; purpose to-be described, the bottom at one end of said rod 33 may be slidably connected thereto as shown in Fig. 5. Each of said bottoms 32 and 32 has projecting laterallytherefrom a pin 34 adapted to be engaged by a pin 67 projecting from an ejecting lever 35 for actuating said pocket bottoms in the discharge of a block from said wheel.

The wrapper for said block of yeast is preferably waxed aper so as to lend itself to heat sealing, w ich may be supplied in any usual manner, either from a continuous roll or in separate sheets, and the guide for said wrapper sheet is indicated at 36. Positive feeding means for drawing a wrapper.

sheet to its position in front of the fol mg wheel pocket may consist of the usual from of nipper devices 37 mounted in spaced relation upon a vertically reciprocatory bar 38 (see Figs. 2 and 4). The movable jaws 39 of said nippers are carried on a common shaft 40 and a toggle link device 41 acts in the usual manner to lock said jaw 39 in open or closed position upon the jaw 37. Stop pins 39 projecting horizontally from each fixed jaw 37 act as lower rests for the paper sheet. Upper and lower stops 42 and 43 are located on the main frame as shown in Fig. 2 to engage said toggle link device 41 at the upper and lower limits of travel for said nippers respectively. The supporting bar 38 extends laterally and is supported from a carrying sleeve 44 slidably mounted on guide rod 45 fixed at its upper and lower ends in said main frame. The supporting bar 38 extends through a vertical slot 46 formed by spaced vertical bars 47 and 48 fixed to said main frame.

When the wrapper is fed to a position in front of the pocket of said folding wheel and a block of yeast has been elevated by the transfer member to a position in front of said pocket, a plunger 49 is actuated to carry said block with its wrapper into the pocket of said wheel to cause the wrapper to be folded about said block in a manner shown in Fig. 18. The plunger 49 is mounted for horizontal sliding movement on the main frame and has a sleeve portion 50 slid able on rod 51 fixed in said main frame, together with a squared portion 52 guided between side pieces 53 of said main frame. A link 54 connects said plunger with an actuat-- ing lever 55.

It will be understood that when the pocket of the tumble wheel is in receiving position preparator to the insertion of the block and wrapper t erein, the bottom 32 is at the front of said pocket, as shown in Fig. 5. The plunger 49 will gently press the block with its wrapper against said bottom 32 and the frictional engagement of said bottom 32 with the walls of said pocket (see Fig. 5)

will ofier a slight resistance to said thrusting} movement whereby the wrapper indicated at W in Fig. 5 will be started in its fold snugly around said block. Furthermore, as soon .as said block indicated at B, Fi 5 is clamped between said plunger 49 and 0t tom 32, the transfer member 6 will be immediately lowered or withdrawn from beneath said block B, whereby said block will not be subjected to any frictional sliding movement along said transfer member 6, which would tend to disintegrate material of such soft crumbly character as yeast. Upon this withdrawal movement of the transfer member, the block will be temporarily sus pended between the plunger 49 and bottom 32.

The thrusting of the block with its wrapper within the pocket 29 as described, will foldthe wrapper around three sides of said block, and at the same time cause the marginal portions extending from one side of said block to be tucked into the first end folds against the ends of said block, as shown in Fig. 19. These end folds are efl'ected by the end folders 31, one at each side of the tumble wheel which are slotted as shown, to permit extension therethrough of the pins 34 from the pocket bottoms. In order to give said mar inal extensions a preliminary crease, (as shown in Fig. 18),.

197 limits their relative movement.

so as to be more readily tucked by the end folders 31, inwardly extending fingers 56 are mounted at each side of said tumble wheel as shown in Fig. 2, one of said fingers bein carried on a bracket 57 hung from a side fo der 58 and the other finger 56 being fixedto the main frame as shown in Fig. 2. The bracket 57 is cut away in Fig. 1 so as not to conceal other portions of said tumble wheel.

After the 0 ding operation shown in Fig. 19 has been completed, the next folding operation is accomplished by a lower side folder 59 and pivoted end folding blades 60, one at each side of the tumble wheel, which are carried upon a vertically reciprocating bar 61 so as to act simultaneously in making a side fold and the second two end folds of said wrapper as shown in Fig. 20. The side folder 59 consists of a narrow spring blade with a cross rod 61' at its upper end and pivoted at its lower end at 62 in brackets 191 fixed upon the bar 61. A spring 63 connects said blade 59 withsaid bar 61 to yieldingly hold said side folder against stop pin 62' carried by bar 61, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 24. The action of said cross rod 61- of said side folder 59 will be to gently wipe a portion of said wrapper partiallyaround the fourthside of said block and in conjunction with the action of the end folders 60 to form outwardly cocked corner portions of the wrapper as shown 'in Fig. 20.

The end folding blades 60 (see Figs. .2 and 24) are carried by the bell cranks 192 and 193 that are pivoted at 194 in the brackets 191. A pin 195 carried by one arm of the bell crank 193 is in engagement with a slot of the lever 192 which functions to equalize the relative motion of the folders 60. A depending arm 193 of the bell crank 193 carries a roll 196 that is adapted to ride upon the bar 48 and a cam patch 197 fixed to the said bar 48. A tension spring 198 connecting the levers 192 and. 193 tends to pull them together while the roll 196 in engagement with the bar 48 or cam patch As shown in Fig. 2, the folders 60 are in a separated relation, but as the slide 61 moves upwardly, the roll 196 runs ofi of the cam 197 and allows the folders to be drawn together in such a manner that the folders may properly function to fold the wrapper snugly against the ends of the article.

The tumble wheel 16 is intermittently rotated through 180 to alternately carry each of the oppositely located pockets therein from receiving to discharging position. The rotation of the tumble wheel is effected by mechanism later to be described and is so timed that as soon as the side folder 59 andend folders 60 have completed their operation, the subsequent rotation of the tumble wheel will carry the partially wrapped block past a final side folder consisting of the curved plate 64, which is hung from the main frame 1 of the machine by means of brackets 65. The front edge of the plate 64 wipes the last side fold of the Wrapper down u on the block into the position shown in F ig. 21, and said plate is continued in arcuate form around the path of said tumble wheel pocket, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to act as a guard plate for keeping said last fold of the wrapper in its folded position until said pocket reaches its discharging position for the block. -The folding blade and arcuate guard plate 64 is spaced suificiently- 68, one at each side of said tumble wheel,

which are adapted to engage the under end folds of the wrapper during the ejection of said block and retain-the same against disfar from the path of travel of said partially placement.

wrapped block so as not to press upon said block or wipe the last fold of the wrapper too closely upon said block, because of the weak nature of the material being wrapped. The action of said side folder 64 is to gently bend and hold down in partially folded position the final side fold of said wrapper until said partially wrapped block approaches the disc arging position of said pocket, at which time the final side fold of the wrapper is more snugly drawn against the block to finish said fold.

The aforesaid final wiping action upon the side fold is accomplished by carrying each partially wrapped block in said tumble wheel into frictional rubbing contact with the side of the next preceding block, so that the latter will frictionally wipe the last final fold of the succeeding block into place. This action is illustrated more clearly in Fig. 13 wherein the tumble wheel pocket is shown as arriving at its discharging position. In order to present each preceding block in osition for rubbing contact with a succeeding block, as shown in Fig. 13, a delivery table 66, upon which the wrapped blocks are discharged from said tumble wheel, is movably mounted so as to reciprocate to and from said tumble wheel. This reciprocatory movement is timed to cause the delivery table 66 to approach said tumble wheel and present the last delivered block thereof into position for rubbing contact with the next succeeding block and insure the wiping of the last final fold of the wrapper thereagainst. The delivery table 66 moves away from said tumble wheel just prior to the beginning of the rotating movement of the latter, so as to give a clear passage for said rotational movement.

During the rotation of said tumble wheel 16, end folders 58 which are fixedly mounted at each side of said wheel act to make the third end folds against the ends of the block as shown in Fig. 21.

The partially wrapped block, when it ar rives at the ischarging position of said tumble wheel pocket has its wrapper completely folded about the same, with the exception of the extended marginal portions which overlap on the fourth side of said ar- It will be observed that the ejecting movement of bottom 32' will likewise draw bottom 32 into the receiving pocket at the opposite side of said tumble wheel so that the incoming block of yeast is not called upon to transmit the necessary force from said plunger 49 to move said bottom 32 inwardly. As the block and wrapper are discharged upon the delivery table 66, the outwardly extending marginal and overlapped portions at the fourth side of the block are wiped past stationary end folder blades 70 one at each side of said delivery table 66, which act to fold against the ends of the block said marginal extensions as final end folds of the wrapped block. The end folders 70 are preferably mounted for yielding movement toward and away from one another to cushion their pressure upon the blocks, and for this purpose, are carried on arms 77 and 77 pivoted on shafts 72 and 72', mounted at each side of said table 66. A spring 63 connects said arms 77 and 77' as shown in Fig. 16.-

The blocks of wrapped material are successively ejected upon said delivery table 66 and are forced therealong by succeeding blocks until finally delivered upon a conveyer belt 74. After the wrapped blocks have passed between the final end folding blades 70, the ends of the blocks are preferably passed between heat sealers 75 one at each side of said table 66 and pivotally mounted similarly to said folding blades 70 and 70'. The heat sealers may be elec-,

trically heated in any usual way now known in the art to fuse the wax or other easily fusible material of the wrapper and securely seal the ends of the package together. Further along said delivery table 66 are preferably mounted cooling plates 7 6 likewise pivoted on the shaft 72 and held yieldingly together by a spring similar to 63, shown in connection with the end folders. It is understood that the plates 76 hold. the end folds of the wrapper securely, long enough to cool and harden after previously being fused by the heat sealer.

The block as finally delivered upon the conveyer belt 74 is thus completely wrapped and sealed and may be carried by said belt neoaeeo fat to any convenient place for packing. It

will be observed that in the'action of the devices upon the wrapper and block as described, the block of soft material is not subjected to any excessive pressure or rubbing action at any stage of the wrapping operation whereby such weak, soft and friable material as yeast may retain its shape and be snugly wrapped. Furthermore, 1t will be observed that the last end folds of the wrapper are made by bending backwardly the overlapped marginal portions of said wrapper, whereby the drawing down of said marginal portions against the ends of the block will tend to tighten the overlapped portions of said wrapper upon the fourth side of said block.

The operations of the above described devices may be effected in various ways,'and a simple form of operating mechanism therefor will now be described in connection with said drawings. The shaft 78 mounted in the main frame may serve as the main power shaft from which power is delivered to shaft 7 9 by sprocket wheels 80, 81, and chain 82. Shaft 78 also drives through spur gears 84:: and 85 the Geneva drive shaft 86. The shaft 7 8 likewise carries a cam 87 having a face groove therein for operating the lever 35., which lever is pivoted at 88 upon said main frame. The Geneva drive shaft 86 is provided with the usual drive pins 89 which engage with the slots of the Geneva wheel 90 mounted on shaft 91 and said Geneva wheel in turn has gear teeth in mesh with the gear teeth 92 of the tumble wheel 16. Also upon said Geneva drive shaft 86 is a cam 93 which operates roll 94 on bell crank arm 95 pivoted at 96 upon said main frame and which is connected by its other arm to the table 66 for reciprocating the same. Parallel link 97 likewise pivoted on the main frame acts to support the other end'of said deliverv table 66 and a spring 98 connects said links 97 with the main frame, tending to hold said reciprocatory table in its leftmost position and also to hold the cam roll 95 upon its cam 93. The pulley shaft 99 for the con-veyer belt 74 likewise receives power from said Geneva drive shaft 86 by means of chain 100 and sprocket wheels. Pivoted on the main frame 101 is the rocking lever 102 carrying roll 103 operated by a groove in cam 102 on said drive shaft 78 whereby said arm 102 is moved or rocked up and down. A link 104: connects the outer end of said arm with the slide sup ort 105 for said vertically reciprocating bar 61 of the side and end folders for imparting movement thereto. An operating lever 106 is pivoted at the opposite end of said machine at 107 and is connected at its outer end by link 108 to the sliding support 109 for said reciprocating bar 82 for imparting a reciprocatory movement block 114 mounted slidably with n the slot 7 115 of arm 116. The arm 116 is pivoted at 117 upon the outer end of bell crank 188 which is pivoted to the main frame at 119. The other arm 120 of said bell crank is connected by link 121 to an arm 122 of a similar bell crank 123 pivoted at 107 on the main frame, said second bell crank having its second arm 123 connected by link 124 to the supplemental support 27 for the feed table. The slotted lever 116 is extended beyond the pivot 117 into an arm 126 which likewise connects said pivot 117 with said support 27. The outer end of arm 116 carries roller 127 acted upon by cam 134 on the shaft 7 9.. By the mechanism just described, the supplemental feed table support 27 and consequently the feed table 4, is given a four-way movement. The arm 116 and extension 126 serves to impart the horizontal component for said movement, while the bell crank 118 at 120 with its roller 127 and connections serves to impart the vertical component to said movement. As previously described, the feed table 4 is pivotall mounted upon said support 27 and norma ly held in posi tion so as to partake of the same movement on the latter. The actuating arm 55 for said plunger 49 is likewise pivotally mounted on shaft 107 and has also arm 129 with roller 130 actuated by a cam 133 on said shaft 79.

What we claim is:

1. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, folding devices to fold said wrapper first about three sides of said block with marginal extensions beyond the ends of the block, subsequently Ill) article with said overlapped extensions in block during a rotation thereof with overlapping portions of the wrapper upon one side of the block and for partially fol'dmg the wrapper at the ends of the block leaving marginal overlapped lportions extending from the ends of the b ock, means for discharging the partially wrapped block from said box acting conjointly with end folders to fold said overlapped extensions as last end folds against the ends of the block.

3. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast, a folding mechanism for folding a wrapper about a block leaving wrapper extensions at opposite ends thereof, a receiver movable towards and away from said mechanism, means for transferring said block from said folding mechanism to said receiver, the said receiver having yieldable side walls for engaging said wrap er extensions for folding them against t e ends of the block.

4. In a wrappin machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a tumble ox, means for carrying a block with a wrapper into said box to fold the wrapper about three sides of the block, side and end folders for acting simultaneously upon the wrapper, means for rotating the tumble box from a receiving to a discharging position, folding devices associated therewith for completing the folding of the wra per about the sides and against the ends 0 the block leaving only the overlapped marginal portions projecting, means for discharging said partially wrapped block from said box acting conjointly with end folders to fold said projecting marginal portions as the last end folds against the block, and a reciprocatory delivery table for receiving the blocks discharged from said tumble box.

5. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a tumble box, means for carrying a block with a wrapper into said box to fold the wrapper about three s des of the block, side and end folders for acting simultaneously upon the wrapper, means for rotating the tumble box from a receiving to a discharging position, folding devices associated therewith for completing the folding of the wrapper about the sides and against the ends of the block leaving only the overlapped marginal portions projecting, means for discharging said partially wrapped block from said box acting conjointly with end'folders to fold said projecting marginal portions as the last end folds against the block, a reciprocatory delivery table for receiving the blocks discharged from said tumble box, and means for moving said table toward said tumble box prior to the discharge of a block thereto and away from said tumble box after said discharge.

6. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a tumble box, means for carrying a block with a wrapper therein, means for rotating said box from a receiving to a discharging position, a reciprocatory delivery table ad acent said tumble box upon which said bloc s are discharged, foldmg devices associated with said tumble box for wrap ing said block comprising a final side f0 der arranged around the path of movement of said tumble box and spaced from the block therein to loosely turn a portion of said wrapper against said block. and means to move said delivery table close to said tumble box during the approach of the latter to its discharging position to present the last wrapped block discharged thereon into frictional engagement with the final side fold of the next succeeding block in said tumble box to snugly fold the last side fold against the block.

7. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a feed table having a four way movement, a transfer member to receive blocks one at a time from said feed table, operating means for said feed table tending to overcarry each block for deposit on said transfer member, a back stop for said feed blocks comprising means to hold it in rigid stopping position when said transfer member is in receiving position and to remove it from its stopping position when said transfer member departs from its receiving position.

8. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a feed table having a four-way movement, a transfer member to receive blocks one at a time from said feed table, operating means for said feed table tending to overcarry each block for deposit on said transfer member, comprising a tensioned support for said feed table adapted to yield in the direction opposite to the feeding movement thereof, a back stop for said feed blocks comprising means to hold it in rigid stopping position'when said transfer member is in receiving position and to remove it from its stopping osition when said transfer member departs rom its receiving position.

9. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a feed table for blocks, a transfer member to receive blocks one at a time from said feed table and remove the same in an oblique path, a back stop rendered movable by a movement of the transfer member, means for giving said feed table a four-way movement, comprising a rocking support for up and down movement, and a supplemental rocking support carried thereon for fore and aft movement.

10. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination," a feed table for blocks, a transfer member to receive blocks one at a time from said feed table and remove the same in an oblique path, a back stop rendered movable by a movement of the transfer member, means for giving said feed table a four-way movement, comprising a rocking support for up and down movement, a supplemental rocking support carried thereon for fore and aft movement, and a third rocking support carried on said supplemental support having tension means permitting it to yield in a other, and actuating means for said bottoms.

12. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a tumble wheel having oppositely located folding pockets therein, movable bottoms in said pockets, connecting means between oppositely disposed bottoms permitting slight movement of each bottom independent of the other, a plunger for coacting with said bottoms to clamp a block and wrapper therebetween and carry the same into said pocket, actuating means for said plunger and separate actuating means for said connected bottoms, a movable transfer member to successively carry blocks to a position be tween said plunger and a bottom, and means to withdraw said transfer member from beneath each block as soon as the plunger and a coacting bottom engage the block.

13. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a tumble wheel having oppositely located folding pockets, interconnected bottoms in said pockets, a plunger coacting with a bottom to carry a block and wrap er into a pocket, a feed table for blocks iiaving a four-way movement, a transfer member to receive blocks one at a time and carry the same in an oblique path from said feed table to said tumble wheel, means to withdraw said transfer member from beneath a block as soon as the lunger and coacting bottom engage a bloc for insertion into the pocket of said tumble wheel, means for rotating said tumble wheel to carry said pockets from receiving to discharging position, a reciprocatory delivery table adjacent the discharging position of said pockets, and means to move said delivery table toward and away from said tumble wheel.

14. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast and the like in combination, a folding pocket having a movable bottom therein, a plunger coacting therewith to carry a block with a wrapper into said pocket, a back stop rendered movable by a movement of the transfer member, a feed table for blocks, a transfer member to receive blocks one at a time and carry the same in an oblique path from said feed table to said folding pocket, means to Withdraw said transfer member from beneath a block as soon as the plunger and coacting bottom engage a. block for insertion into said folding pocket.

15. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast, folding mechanism for folding a Wrapper about a block leaving wrapper extensions at the end thereof, a receiver for said block movable towards and away from said folding mechanism, means for transferring a block from the wrapping mechanism to said receiver, the said receiver comprising a table and side walls hingedly carried at opposite sides thereof which are urged towards one another so as to yieldingly engage opposite ends of the block and fold the wrapper extensions thereagalnst.

16. In a wrapping machine for blocks of yeast or the like, mechanism for folding a wrapper about a block leaving wrapper extensions at opposite ends thereof, a del very belt disposed at a distance from the dellvery end of said folding mechanism, a movable receiver between said folding mechanism and delivery belt of less length than the distance therebetween, the said receiver having yielding side walls for engaging opp osite ends of said block for folding said wrapper extensions thereagainst, means for moving blocks from said folding mechanism to said receiver and means for reciprocating said receiver so that its receiving and delivery ends are alternately brought up to the folding mechanism and delivery belt.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures.

ELMER L. SMITH. FREDERIO B. FULLER.

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