US1814166A - Wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1931. A. s. KUX

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet l July 14, 1931. A. s. KUX

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 19 28 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 14, 1931. A. s. KUX

I WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1928 9 Sheets-Shee t 3 7 July 14, 1931. A. s. KUX

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 14, 1931. A. s. KUX 1,814,166

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 A. S. KUX

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan.

July 14, 1931.

25, 1928 9 Sheets- Sheet 6 aide/"J" July 14, 1931. A. s. KUX

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 July'14, 1931.

A. s. KUX I WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan 25, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 A. s. KUX

WRAPPING MACHINE July 14, 1931,

Filed Jan. 25. 1928 9 Sheets-Sheefi 9 Patented July 14, 1931 OFFICE ALBERT S. KUX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS WRAPPING MACHINE Application filed January 25, 1928. Serial No. 249,225.

This invention relates to improvements in Wrapping machines, particularly adapted 'though not necessarily limited in its use for wrapping butter into packages of prede- '6, termined sizes by folding or wrapping therearound one or more sheets of material such as paper or the like.

A further object I is to provide an improved machine of this character in which '10 the wrapper at the ends of the package will be completely and compactly folded by stationary cam surfaces arranged along the path of movement of the article and successively operating upon the wrapper as the article and wrapper are being advanced.

A further object is to provide an improved machine of this character in which the wrapper mechanism constitutes a separate unit adapted to be readily removed from the machine without dismantling any of the other parts of the machine or mechanism, and interchanged with another wrapping unit, thereby adapting the machine for wrapping packages of difl'erent sizes.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of amachine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles .of this invention and taken from the delivery end of the machine. Figure 2 is an end elevation taken from the infeed end.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the machine.

Figure 4 is a side elevation.

. Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6-6, Figure 1.

Figure-g7 is an irregular sectional view taken on line 77, Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 59 8-8, Figure 3, with parts omitted.

Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation of the folding mechanism as taken on line 99, Figure 3, with parts omitted.

Figure 10 is a detail horizontalsectional View, taken on line 10-10, Figure 6.

Figures 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views showingthe different steps in the advancement of the article and of applying the wrapping paper therearound.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of one end of a partially wrapped article corresponding to the steps in the operation shown in Figure 12.

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 18, showing one end ofa partially wrapped article, corresponding to the step of the operation shown in Figure 13.

' Figure 20 is a View. similar to Figures 18 and 19, showing the wrapping about the article, corresponding to Figure 14.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of one end of a partially wrapped article, showing the end of the wrapper partially folded and corresponding with Figure 15.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of one end of a partially wrapped article, showing the Wrapper in position corresponding to Figure 16.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a com- 30 pletely folded end of the wrapper, corresponding to Figure 17.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 13,- but showing the parts in vertical section.

Figure 25 is a detail sectional view taken on line 25-25, Figure 13.

Figure 26 is a detail sectional view asv taken on line 2626, Figure 15.

Figure 27 is a view similar to Figure 14 showing the parts in vertical section.

Figures 28 and 29 are enlarged detail sectional views of a portion of the folding mechanism showing two steps in the folding operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 30 designates a suitable supporting structure and mounted thereupon and journaled in suitable bearings is a main driving shaft 31, by means of which the various mechanisms are set into operation.

The shaft 31 is operated preferably by means of a motor 32 suitably mounted upon the structure and connected with the shaft of the motor is a gear wheel 33 which meshes with a gear wheel 34 suitably mounted.

Engaging the lateral face of the gear 34 is a friction driving disc 35 which is keyed upon a shait 36 to rotate therewith. The disc 35 is movable toward or away from the periphery of the gear 34 in any suitable manner to vary the speed of rotation of the shaft 36. To that end a lever 37 (see Figures 1 and 2) may be provided which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 38. One end of the lever is formed into a yoke 39 and is operatively connected with a collar 40 which is connected with the disc 35 to bodily move. the. latter and also to permit the. disc to rotate. Connected with the free end of the lever 37' is an adjusting screw 41 having contact or threaded engagement with a suitable stationary portion of the saipporting structure 30. By rotating the adjusting screw 41 the disc 35 will be correspomlingly adjusted.

Secured to the shaft 36 is a sprocket wheel (see particularly Figure 5) over which a sprocket chain 42 passes and the sprocket chain also passes over a sprocket wheel 43 (see Figure 7) which is keyed or secured to a hub 44 of a clutch member 45, so that when the motor is operated the clutch member 45 will rotate loosely upon the shaft 31.

(lo-operating with the clutch member 45 is a clutch member 46 which is keyed to the shaft 31 as at 47 to rotate therewith. \Vhen the clutch members 45 and 46 are in engagement the shaft 31 will be rotated, a spring 48 tending normally to move the clutch member 45 in a direction to engage the clutch member 46.

A lever 49 (see also Figure 5) is pivotally mounted at one end as at 50 upon a suitable support and the forward end of the lever is bifurcated as at 51 to engage pins 52 on a collar 53, which latter is connected with the clutch member 45 to shift the latter laterally but to permit the same to rotate.

A foot pedal 54 (see also Figures 1 and 2) is pivotally mounted as at 55 and is connected by means of a suitable connection 56 with the lever 49 so that when the foot pedal 54 is depressed the clutch member 45 will be shifted for controlling the operation of the shaft 31.

Secured also to the shaft 31 for rotation therewith are a plurality of cam elements 57-5859 and 60 for actuating the various parts of the machine.

Mounted upon the supporting structure 30 and at a suitable elevation is a conveyor porting trough 61 preferably provided with two series of rollers 62-63 spaced from each other in directions lengthwise of the trough and arranged along the side of each of the series are guides or supporting rails 64 which support the article and along which guide rail the article is moved by the rollers. The article is fed to the series of roll ers 62 in any suitable manner preferably from a chute or incline 65 and arranged intermediate the series of rollers is a feed- I ing member 66 preferably in the form of a plate which is supported by means of links 67 (see particularly Figure 6) and these links are pivotally connected by one end as at 68 with the member 66 and are mounted upon shafts 69 at their free ends, the shafts having eccentric bearings 70. Connected with the shafts 69 (see particularly Figure 4) are sprocket wheels 71 over which a sprocket chain 72 passes and a second sprocket chain 73 passes over a sprocket wheel connected with one of the shafts 69 and also over a sprocket wheel 74 connected with the clutch member 46 (see also Figure 7) for rotation therewith so that when the clutch member 46 is rotated the sprocket chain 73 will rotate one of the shafts 69 and through the sprocket chain 72 will impart an eccentric movement to the feeding member or plate 66 so as to cause the plate 66 to be lowered to receive the article from the roller 62 and then through the eccentric movement of the plate or member 66 advance the article to a position to be engaged by the roller 63.

The advancing of the article by the plate 66 is accomplished by reason of the fact that during its eccentric movement it is also given a forward and backward movement through the medium of a lever 74 pivotally mounted at one end as a 75 and connected at its other end by means of a link 76 with one of the uprights 67.

The cam element 57 is provided with a cam groove 77 (see particularly Figure 6) in which an anti-friction roller 78 that is connected with an arm 79 of a bell crank lever, operates. The other arm 80 of the bell crank lever is connected by means of a link 81 with the lever 74 so that when the cam 57 is rotated by the shaft 31, the lever 74 will be rocked back and forth about its pivot 75 and thereby impart a forward and backward movement to the member or plate 66. This forward and backward movement is imparted to the member or plate 66 simultaneously with its eccentric movement.

The wrapping mechanism consists essentially of a tubular member having a supbase 82 (see particularly Figures 6, 9 and 10), and a top member 83, the top member being loosely held in position for movement toward and away from the base member 82 in any suitable manner, preferprovided for adjusting the'top plate 83 with respect to the bottom plate to vary the size of the opening through the folding member.

The folding unit thus constructed is mounted in any suitable manner means of fastening devices 89 (see particularly Figure 6) and is provided with a guide 90 adjacent one end through which a plunger rod 91 is adapted to be reciprocated by means of a link 92 connecting the ends of the plunger rod with the lever 74. Carried by the plunger rod 91 is a plunger head 93 having forwardly projecting ends 94 preferably slightly curved as at 95 that converge forwardly from the face of thewhead as shown more clearly'in Figures 9 and'25. The plunger head 93,1noves upon the bottom plate 82 of the folder head and carried by the top of the plunger so as to extend above and between the end members of the plunger head is a plate96, the forward edge 97 of which projects considerably in advance of the front of the plunger head and is preferably beveled. The rear end of the plate 96 extends behind the plunger head for a considerable distance, for a purpose to be set forth.

Projecting into the sides of the folder head are spring pressed fingers 98 which engage the wrapper and form one of the folds in the wrapper as the article and wrapper are advanced through the folder head.

The bottom of the folder section is reduced in size at a point a short distance to the rear of the fingers 98 as at99 so that referably upon a supporting plate 88, pre erably by when the article passes the fingers 98 and the wrapper is partially folded by these fingers, the unfolded portion of the wrapper will project beyond the edges of the reduced portion 99 of the bottom of the folder head. Stationary cam members 100 which extend from the bottom plate 82 upwardly and rearwardly are arranged adjacent the edges of the reduced portion 99 to engage another portion of the wrapper and fold it upwardly against the end of the article as the article is tions 100. V v

Additional cam shaped members 101 are arranged adjacent the sides of the reduced portion 99 of the .top of the folder head and spaced from the cam members 100. These I cam members 101 incline downwardly and age and thereby complete the folding operation. A pair of these cams 100101 are passed over the cam shaped p.or-'

forwardly so that when the article ,ad-

arranged on each side of the folding mem bar so as to simultaneously fold the respective ends of the wrapper.

Beyond the cams 101'members 102 are arranged which are preferably mounted upon upright pivots 103. Springs 104 tend normally to press the members 102 inwardly so as to compress the folded ends of the wrapper against the respective ends of the article. The springs 104 are of such a tension that only the necessary pressure will be imparted to the ends of the wrapper without distorting or injuring the article.

An adjusting screw 105 may be provided for each of the members l02 for controlling the stress of the springs 104. -These screws pass throu h brackets 106 secured respectively to t e members 102 and their ends engage stops 107 on the folder head.

Carried by the folder head are plates or members 108109 (see particularly Figure 6) which are supported in any suitable manner and their adjacent edges are deflected downwardly as at 110111 to form a guide through which the article and the wrapper are initially forced into a position where they will be engaged by the plunger 91 to be advanced through the folder head. The

plates 108109 are supported in such a v manner that the opening 112 between the flanges 110111 will be arranged in alinement with the plunger 113. As the article is fed by the rollers 63 it will be delivered to a supporting plate 114 and will be ad-' vanced until it is arrested by a stop 115 and which stop 115 is arranged in such a position that the article will bearrested in its movement directly beneath the plunger 113. Before the article is engaged bythe plunger 113 it will be held in position and against dropping onto the wrapper 144, as it will be held against the stop 115 by the advancing and succeeding supplies of articles. Furthermore there is also a side pressure exerted upon the article which is positioned to be engaged by the plunger 113, by the spring controlled stop 176 hereinafter described and which stop assists in holding the article.

When in i this position, and when the plunger 113 is lowered, assuming that the plunger 93 is retracted, the article Wlll be fed between the flanges 110 and 111011 to the bottom plate 82 of the folder head. A. stop 116 is arranged above the supporting plate 114 and spaced from the stop 115, and

this stop 116 serves as a means for preventing the next succeeding article from belng int . are being delivered to the roller 63 by the plate or member 66.

- To prevent the article which has been delivered to the bottom of the folder head 82 from returning with the plunger 113, any suitable means may be provided." An etfi cient means for accomplishing this result embodies a finger 117 pivotally mounted as at 118, the lower end of the finger being normally projected into the opening 112 preferably by means of a spring 119. One face of the plunger 113 may be cut away as at 120 to permit the end of the finger to enter the opening 112 and the end of the finger 117 is so positioned that when the article is delivered upon the bottom 82 of the folder head beneath the opening 112 the end of the finger will project over the article and thereby restrain its return movement with the plunger 113.

In order to hold the article while an initial fold is being given to the wrapper there is provided a member 121 pivotally mounted as at 122 and adapted to be held normally in the position shown in Figure 24, by means of a spring 123. The member 121 extends entirely across after an initial-fold has been given to the wrapper, the member 121 will yield to permit the partially folded wrapper to be advanced by the plunger 93 in a manner to be set forth.

In order to hold the article and the wrapper against being drawn back with the plunger 93 when the latter is retracted, a suitable resiliently mounted retaining device 93 (see particularly Figure 27) may be provided which may be secured at any suitable point preferably upon the bottonrmcniber 82 of the folder head and is adapted to extend into a suitable opening 93" in the plunger head. As the article is being advanced by the plunger over the stop 93 the latter will be depressed but when the article assumes a predetermined position in the folder head the resiliency of the stop 93 will cause it to rise and enter the opening 93"in the plunger head, as shown in Figure 27.

The folder head constitutes a single unit and embodies the elements 82 to 112 inclusive and also the elements 114, 115, 116 and may be bodily removed from the .machine as a unit and interchanged with another head of a similar character ,and of a.- different size, thereby adapting the machine to accommodate different size packages without dismantling any of the other parts of the mechanism.

To that end the unit is removably secured inposition by means of suitable fastening screws 124 which pass through supporting surfaces 125 on the supporting In order to interchange one of these folding heads or units with another, it is only one edge of the article and structure 30.

necessary to disconnect one of the pivot pins of the link 92 and then by adjusting the screws 124 the entire folder may be removed and another one quickly placed in position by re-adjusting the screws 124 and then again connecting the link 92 with the end of the respective plunger rod 91.

The vertical plunger 113 is reciprocatpd from the shaft 31 and through the medium of the can element 59. Mounted in a suitable bearing on the supporting structure 30 is a rock shaft 126 (see particularly Figures 1, 2, 5 and 7) to which an arm 127 is connected by one end. Connected with the free end of the arm is an anti-friction roller 128 which operates in a cam groove 129 in the cam 59. To the other end of the shaft 126 and preferably outside of the supporting structure an arm 130 is connected by one end. A rod or link 131 is connected by one end to a lever 132, the latter being pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at 133 to an upright 134'. Connected to the upright 134 are bearings 135 in which a plunger rod 136, that is connected with the plunger 113, reciprocates. One end of the lever 132 is connected-by means of a link 137 with the plunger rod 136, preferably between the bearings 135 and a collar 138 is connected with the link and also with the plunger rod 136 and is adapted to be adjustably secured to the plunger rod 136 so as to adjust the throw of the plunger by the operation of the lever 132.

The other end of the lever 132 is provided with an elongated slot 139 in which a bearing 140 is adjustable by means of an adjusting screw 141, the free end of the link or rod 131 being connected with the bearing 140 so that by adjusting the bearing 140 upon the lever 132 the proper movementor throw may be imparted to the plunger rod 136 and plunger 113.

The plunger 113 is provided with an extended surface 113 (see particularly Figure 6) so as to form a stop for the advancing articles upon theplate or support 114 when the plunger is being reciprocated as the surface 113 will engage and move across the face of the next succeeding article.

The wrapping paper is supplied from a reel 142 (see particularly Figures 1 and 2) and which reel is held in position by adjustable bearings or supports 143. The paper 144 preferably passes from the reel 142 into a tank or container 145 for containing brine or a similar liquid, thence over a roller 146 in the tank up to and over a roller 147 and thence through paper feeding rolls 148 (see also Figure 8) to be fed across the plates 108-109 (see .also Figure 9), over the space 112 between the deflected or flanged portions 110-111 respectively of the members 108109, and beneath the plunger 113. The rolls 148 may be intermittently stationary operated in any desired or suitable manner preferably by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism 149150 (see also Figures 1,2 and 3). The pawl 149 is connected to a lever 151 by means of a. block or bearing 152 arranged in a slot 153 in the end of the lever 151 and adjustable by means of an adjusting screw 154. To the block or bearing 152 is connected one end of a bar or link 155 (see also Figure 5). The other end of the rod 155 is connected to one end of an arm 156 that is connected at its other end with a rock shaft 157 journaled in a suitable bearing 158. To the other end of the shaft 157 is connected one end of an arm 159 (see also Figure 1) and carried by the arm 159 is an anti-friction roller 160 that operates in a cam groove 161 in the cam 60 (see also Figure 7) so that when the shaft 31 is rotated the cam 60 will be rotated and a reciproca-' tory movement will be imparted to the lever 151, which in turn will impart an intermittent rotation to a shaft 162' upon which the ratchet gear 150 is mounted and which shaft 162- also forms a bearing for the lever 151. Connected with the ratchet gear 150 for rotation therewith is a gear 163 which meshes with a gear 164 (see particularly Figures 2 and 7) that is connected for rota- -tion with a gear 165 and the gear 165 is in turn connected with one of the rollers 148 for rotation therewith. Connected with the other roller 148 for rotation therewith is a gear 166 which meshes with the gear 165 so that when the lever 151 is oscillated an intermittent rotation will be imparted to both of the rollers 148 to feed the paper 144.

As ameans for preventing'overthrow of the rollers in feeding the paper, suitable brakemechanism may be provided. A simple and efficient brake embodies a pulley 148 (see particularly Figures 1 and 4) secured to the shaft of one of the rollers 148 and a band 148 may be provided to pass over the pulley 148 and the ends of the band may be anchored as at 148148.

The rollers 148 may be provided with grooves 167 (see particularly Figure 8) through which spring fingers 168 pass so as to prevent the moist paper from adhering to the rollers 148 and also for directing the paper on to the members 108'109. v

he paper is severed in' predetermined lengths preferably by means of a cutter or knife 169 (see particularly Figures 1, 4 and 8), which is pivotally mounted at one end as at 170. The knife 169 co-operates with a knife 171 and these knives 169- 171. are mounted'upon a bodily adjustable support 172 which is adapted to be secured in position by suitable fastening devices 173. A screw 174 has a threaded engagement with the support 172 and by means of the handle 175 the screw may be rotated so as to adjust the support with the knives 169-171 and thereby vary the quantity of paper to be severed uponeach operation of the knife 169.-

The knife 169 operates in timed relation with the paper feeding mechanism whereby the paper will be fed and positioned before it is severed from the supply and isreciprocated by means of a bar or rod 169 (see particularly Figures 2, 3, 5 and 7) which is connected by one end with a knife 169 and by its other end with one end of an arm 169 The free end of the arm 169' is loosely mounted upon the shaft 126. An anti-friction roller 169 operates in a cam groove 169 in the cam 58. y

As a means for automatically arresting the operation of the machine when an article is not in'proper position to be engaged and advanced by the plunger 113 (see particularly Figures 3, 5, 6 and 8) an automatic lockin device may be provided. A simple and efiicient device of this character em-. bodies a stop 176 which projects into the path of movement of the end of the article as it is being advanced upon the plate or .support 114. This stop 176 is connected to an arm 177 secured to the end of an upright shaft 178 that is journaled in suitable bearings 179 and a handle 180 is connected with the shaft 178 so that it may be manually rotated (see also Figure 1).

Connected with the lower end" of the shaft 178 and by means of a universal joint 181 (see particularly Figure 1) is an arm .182 (see particularly Figure 5) which is normally supported or held up by means ofa spring 183 and which spring tends normally to rotate the shaft 178 in a direction to project the stop 176 into the path of movement of the portion ofthe article being advanced" upon the plate or member 114. Carried by the arm 182 is an adjustable element 184 and carried also by the' arm 182 is a projection 185 that is adapted to enter under predetermined conditions an opening 186 in the clutch element 46 (see also Figure 7) when the opening 186 is in a position to receive the projection 185. When this projection 185 on the arm 182 enters the opening or recess 186 the clutch member 46 will be locked against rotation and this will also look the shaft 31 against rotation. The projection 185 will enter the recess 186 is present and in engagement with the stop device 176 to hold the latter back. If the article is present the arm 182 will be held against entering the opening 186, but should there be no article present the spring 183 will move the arm 182, when the recess 186 is opposite the projection 185, so that the projection will enter the recess 186, and the when no article 1 article will then assume the positions shown which is adjacent the plunger 93.

the arm 182 to be depressed and "will cause the element 184 to engage a cam surface 187 (see particularly Figure 5) on the lever 49 and as the arm 182 is then lowered and as the element 184 moves over the cam surface 187 the lever 49 will be moved about its pivot 50 so as to shift the clutch member 45 out of operative contact or engagement with the clutch element 46 and the machine will be stopped.- The arm 182 will be adapted for such movement by reason of the universal connection of the arm with the shaft 178..

By then depressing the foot pedal 54 the cam surface 187 will operate upon the element 184 to raise the arm 182 and will also shift the lever 49 so as to permit the clutch member 45 to operatively contact with the clutch member 46.

It is thought that the operation of this machine will be clearly understood from the foregoing, but briefly stated it is as follows, reference being had particularly to Figures 6, 9 and 10, and the diagrammatic Figures 11 to 27, it being understood that the cams and devices for operating the various parts are so arranged that they will operate the respective parts in timed relationwith respect to each other.

' The articles are fed to the support 114 by the rollers 63 and the plate or member 66 until the foremost article engages the stop 115 (see Figure 6). As the foremost article is being advanced on the support 114, the wrapper will be fed to the members 108-109 across the opening 112 and beneath the plunger 113, in a directiontransverse to the direction of the feeding movement of the articles, the plunger.93 being retracted. The foremost article and wrapper will then assume the position shown in Figure 11. The plunge? 113 is then lowered forcing this article against the wrapper 144 and then the wrapper and the article through the opening 112 until the article with the wrapper partially folded therearound engages and rests upon the bottom plate 82 of the folder head, as shown in Figure 12. The wrapper and in Figure 18. The plunger 113 is then retracted and the plunger 93* is advanced (see Figure 24) to fold down the upper flap same time the curved surfaces 95 (see Figure 25) of the projections 94 on the plunger 93 will fold in the upright portion between 'v the folded down topflap and the bottom flap, on the portion of the wrapper which is adjacent the plunger '93, (see also Figure 13). The plunger 93 continues to advance (see Figure 14) and the other portion of the top flap will be folded over the already 'folded portion of the top flap (as shown also in Figure 27 and diagrammatic Figure 20). The thus partially wrapped article will then be further advanced by the plunger 93 until withdrawn and At the opposite to the upright portion of the wrapper that has been folded by the portions 94 of the plunger and the wrapper will then be folded as shown in Figure 15. This will leave a top and bottom flap at the end of the article unifolded and the article will then be in a position that the spring fingers 98 will engage the ends thereof (see Figure 15, 26 and 27). The plunger 93 is then another article and wrapper fed to the support in advance of the plunger 93. On the next advancing movement of the plunger 93, the article in advance thereof will engage the partially ,wrapped article held by the fin ers 98 to advance it, causing the bottom ap on each end of the article to engage the stationary cam surface 100, and as the article is advanced this cam surto theposition shown in Figure 22. As

this particular article is further advanced the upper unfoldedjportion of the end flap will contact with the next stationary cam surface 101 and the top flap will then be folded down against the bottom flap as shown in Figure 23.

The completely wrapped article will then be further advanced until the folded ends of the wrapper contact with the spring pressed plates 102, the pressure of these plates-being sufficient to clamp or fold the end flaps tightly against the end of the article. When the article is further advanced it will be ejected from the folder head and may be delivered to a suitable support or conveyor to beconveyed away. 9

When it is desired to wrap articles of different sizes, the complete folder head may be bodily removed ,as a unit and another folder head substituted therefor.

' It will be noted that all of the folding operations except the first step in the folding operation, as shown 1n Figures 11, 12 and 18, will be made successively as the article i is being advanced through the folder head.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. wrapping machine embodying a unitary wrapping section proper, said section embodying a support along which the article is moved while being wrapped, means for thus moving the article and wrapper, and means arranged along the path of movement of the article on the support for successively engaging and folding portions of the wrapper against opposite faces of the article, the

last said means embodying upwardly and downwardly inclined stationary surfaces arranged at different points along the line of travel of the article, all of said'parts being bodily removable as a unitary structure from the machine and interchangeable with "another unitary Wrapping section.

2. A wrapping machine embodying a unitary wrapping section proper, said section embodying a support along which the article is moved while being wrapped, means for thus moving the article and wrapper, and means arranged along the pathof movement of the article on the support for successively engaging and folding portions of the wrapper against opposite faces ofthe article, the last said means embodying upwardly and downwardly inclinedstationary surfaces arranged at different points along the line of travel of the article, said section being of a tubular formation one of the walls of which is freely movable within predetermined limits towards and away from the opposite wall, all of said parts being bodily removable as a] unitary structure from the 'machine and interchangeable with another unitary wrapping section.

3. A wrapping machine embodying a unitary wrapping section proper, said section embodying a support along which the article is moved while being wrapped, means for thus moving the article and wrapper, means arranged along the path of movement" of the article, on the support for successively engaging and folding portions of the wrapper against opposite faces of' the article, the last said 'means embodying upwardly and downwardly inclined stationary surfaces arranged at difierent points along the line of travel of the article, said section being of a tubular formation, one of the walls of which is freely movable within predetermined'limits towards and away from the opposite wall, and means for varying at will the extent of said free movement, all of said parts being removable as a unitary structure from, the

machine and interchangeable with another unitary wrapping section.

4; A wrapping machine embodying a fold ing section, said section embodying a support along which the article is moved while being wrapped, a Wrapper support adjacent one end of the first said support and ofi'set with respect thereto, said wrapper support having an opening therethrough across which the paper is fed, means for positioning the article above said opening and wrapper, a plunger for engaging the article and for forcing the article and wrapper through said opening to the first said support, the edges of the wrapper projecting above the article, means for moving the article and wrapper along the first said support, and means arranged along the path of movement of the article and wrapper along the last recited support for engaging and successively folding different portions of the Wrapper against opposite faces of the article, all of the parts of said folding section with the exception ofthe first recited plunger being bodily removable from the machine as a unitary structure and interchanged with another similar unitary structure.

5. A wrapping machine embodying a fold:- ing section, said section embodying a main support along which the article is moved while being wrapped, a Wrapper support adjacent one end of the first said support and offset with respect thereto, said paper sup- Port, and means arranged along the said main support for successively folding portions of the wrapper against opposite faces of the article, all of the parts of the said folding section with the-exception of the wrapper positioning. means and the first recited plunger being'bodily removable from the machine as a unitary structure and interchangeable with another similar unitary structure.

6. A wrapping machine embodying as a unitary structure a wrapping section, said section embodying means for supporting a wrapper, means for holding an article in po- "sition with; respect to the wrapper, means for folding the wrapper about the articles as they are advanced, means for advancing the articles and wrapper, all of said parts being bodily removable as a unitary struc- 'ture for interchange with another similar wrapping section, means for supplying the wrapper, and means'for feeding the article into said section.

7. A wrapping machine embodying as a ing the articles and wrapper, all of said parts being bodily-removable asa unitary structure for interchange with another similar Wrapping section. v

- 8. A wrapping machine embodying asa unitarystructure a wrapping section, S3.l(lc

section embodying means for holding a wrapper, means for holding an article in position with respect to the wrapper, up-

unitary structure a wrapping section, said wardly and downwardly inclined fo'rmations arranged along the path of movement of the article as it is advanced for folding the wrapper about the article, and means for advancing the article and wrapper, all of said parts being removable as a unitary structure for interchange with another similar wrapping section.

9. In a wrapping machine a wrapping section embodying means for supporting a wrapper, means for holding an article in position with respect to the wrapper, means for folding the wrapper about the article as it is advanced, and means for advancing the article and wrapper, all of the parts of said wrapping section being readily removable and interchangeable with another similar wrapping section.

10. In a wrapping machine a wrapping section embodying means for supporting a wrapper, means for holding an.article in position with respect to the wrapper, means for folding the wrapper about the article as it is advanced, and means for advancing the article and wrapper, the last recited means comprising upwardly and downwardly inclined formations arranged along the path of movement of the article, all of the parts of said wrapping section being readily removable and interchangeable with another similar wrapping section.

11. In a wrapping machine a wrapping section embodying means for supporting a wrapper, means for holding an article in position with respect to the wrapper, means for folding the wrapper about the article as it is advanced, and'means for advancing the article and wrapper, said section being of tubular formation, one of the walls of which section is freely movable within predetermined limits toward and away from the opposite wall, all of theparts of said Wrapping sction, being readily removable and interchangeable with another similar wrapping section. s

In testimony {whereof I have signed my name to this specification, of December, A. D. 1927.

- ALBERT S; KUX.

on this 30th day

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