US2054394A - Ice packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1936. H. c. SHEVLIN ET AL. 2,054,394

ICE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l mm 'A ATTORNEY- Sept. 15, 1936. H. c. SHEVLIN [QT AL 2,054,394

ICE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1933 4Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2,

P 1936. H. c. SHEVLIN ET AL 2,054,394

ICE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1933 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 15; 1936. H. c. SH EVLIN ET AL 2, 3

ICE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY .INVEIHVTORS:

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 ICE PACKAGING MACHINE Harold C. Shevlin and Joseph P. Shevlin, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 25, 1933, Serial No. 690,964

22 Claims.

This invention relates to the device for handling blocks of ice such as extensively manufactured for use in commercial and domestic refrigerators, and has particular reference to means for sub-dividing such blocks of ice into smaller blocks of the size demanded by the trade; also to means for wrapping such blocks in covering material to facilitate the handling of the goods by the purchaser.

The general object of our invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and inexpensive device of the character referred to. More particularly, an important object of our invention is the provision of a device capable of handling the blocks of ice produced by the ice manufacturers without first trimming the edges or flat surfaces of the ice. A further object is to provide means for holding the initial large block, or the sub-divided smaller blocks, so firmly, that the separations of the pieces are effected cleanly and without any breaks of corners or other chipping. Another object is to provide means for adjusting the device of our invention to take blocks of ice of different sizes. Another object is to provide means for properly locating the ice blocks during the cutting operations in order that the subdivided blocks may be of uniform size. A further object is the provision of means for properly locating the sub-divided block in relation to a wrapper and for holding such wrapper firmly in position while the block is being located. Another object is to provide means for folding the Wrapper around the block and for applying binding material to the flaps of the folded wrapper. A further object is the provision of means for completing the folding of the wrapper and for setting the binding material sufficiently to prevent the wrapper from coming open when the completed package is removed from the machine.

With the foregoing objects in view and for the purpose of explaining the further objects and advantageous features of the invention, drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form are incorporated in this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a structure embody ing the invent-ion and with parts broken away for the sake of clearness,

Figure 2 is a substantially corresponding side elevation of the structure, also with parts broken away to disclose important elements of the invention,

Figure 3 is a substantially corresponding front elevation of the device,

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the structure,

Figure 5 illustrates, on a larger scale, certain important features of Figure 1,

Figures 6 and '7 show, on a larger scale, portions of Figure 4, and

Figures 8 and 9 are, respectively, a plan view and an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 4.

In the embodiment of our invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the numeral l designates a table which is divided into three main portions: a loading device A, a sawing mechanism B, and a wrapping device C.

Forming part of the loading device, and near the left, or front end of the table, is journaled a receiving device comprising an inclined chute 2 on which a block of ice 3 is deposited. This chute is made with a socket 2 of a size to receive a lifting bar 5 which is conveniently manipulated by the operator to swing the chute on its journals, thereby to transfer the block of ice to the table. A post 4 may conveniently be pivotally mounted on this chute, and it is operable by a handle 4* to support the elevated chute when desired. More elaborate loading devices may, of course, be substituted, but this simple mechanism has proved itself very convenient and efficient. A circular saw 6 is shown mounted to rotate in the center of the table in front of the block of ice, which has been deposited, and this saw is of a size to cut the ice block into cakes of the sizes ordinarily used in the trade. Suitable means, such as an electric motor I, is employed to rotate this saw, and the connection from this motor to drive this saw at the desired speed is conventionally illustrated by a belt 8. f

A stationary support is shown mounted on the table I and this support is made with longitudinal rails 9 and H], on which an ice carrier H is mounted to slide. This carrier comprises a pair of inverted, U-shaped frames which are rigidly interconnected in parallel, spaced relation. A series of rollers l2 are fixed to rotate on these frames, and these rollers ride in the longitudinal support members 9 and ID for the purpose'of facilitating the sliding movement of the ice carrier.

In a cross member of the ice carrier is journaled an operating hand lever I4 which, through the medium of a connection i5, is fitted to tilt a lever l6, thereby to force a pair of pointed plungers I? into the rear edge of the ice block. In line with the plungers I1, and opposed to these plungers, is a pair of fixed prongs l8. Normally, the operating handle l4 takes a retracted position, in the direction of the saw 6, causing the lever E6 to be tilted to withdraw the plungers 11, thereby to afford" space for the transfer of the ice blocks to the table but, when the handle I4 is swung forward, into the position shown in Fig. 2, it is seen that the points of the plungers and prongs penetrate into the ice block to hold it firmly clamped on the carrier. The operator, still holding the handle l4, pushes the carrier forward, thereby to advance 'the ice block into contact with, and past, the saw 6, which cuts the ice :blocks cleanly in two equal parts. The operator thereupon pulls the carrier back into its initial position and swings the operating handle I 4 rearward to release the two separated blocks of ice. One of these separated pieces may now temporarilybe pushed back onto the chute 2, and the other one may be given a quarter turn and clamped in the carrier for lengthwise slitting, whereupon the two separated parts may be held together, returned to their initial position, and clamped together in this position for further sub-division, or the parts may be otherwise manipulated asrfound most convenient to speed 7 1y be adjusted by disconnecting the knuckle 28 7 up these operations.

A stop plate I 9 is shown journaled on the table near the chute 2, and this plate may be positioned on thetable by rotating it on its pivot to locate the block of ice for the first sawing operation.

' A series of similar stop plates 20, 2 l, 22 are shown journaled on the table at the opposite end of the ice block, and these plates may bemanipulated in like manner to determine the position of the smaller blocks of ice, which require further subdivision.

Ice is very brittle, and one of the main difficulties in sawing ice is that the edges chip and the corners break ofi very easily. In order to prevent such chipping, it is necessary to hold the block of ice very firmly during the sawing operation, and this I accomplish by means of the mechanism just described. It is also necessary to V regulate the pressure exerted against the plungers I? in order that the points may sink in sufficiently to hold the ice block firmly in position, but not far enough to chip or split the ice. For the purpose of such regulation, I show the connection l5, see Figure 2, comprising a tubular member 23, within which'a rod 24 is seated to slide. opposite end is provided with screw threads, engaging a knuckle 28 of the lever 14. A suitable compression spring 25 is shown placed on the rod 24 intermediate the head 21 and a perforated plug 26 of the tubular member. While the hand lever l4 remains retracted, the'spring 25 is not under tension, but when the lever is pulled forward, it is seen that a compression of this spring takes place, and that the force of this compression is transmitted through the tubular member 23 and the lever Hi to the plungers IT. From this it is seen that pressure is not directly transferred from the hand lever to the plungers, but that it ismodified by response of the spring to such pressure to insure uniform yielding pressure against the ice, irrespective of the manner in which the hand lever is manipulated by the operator. The tension of the spring may convenientfrom the hand lever by removing the pin on which the knuckle pivots, and by relative rotation of the knuckle and the rod 24 one way or the other.

The foregoing explanation of the loading and sawing mechanism is merely descriptive of our invention. The stops, I9 to 22 inclusive, are inroduced for the purpose of illustrating means This rod is made with a head 2'I,'and its of properly locating the blocks of ice for any desired sub-division, but no attempt has been made correctly to position such stops as the location of the stops will depend somewhat upon the initial sizeof the ice block and also upon the extent to which it is desired to sub-divide the block. One of the difiiculties, in handling manufactured blocks of ice, is that the shapes of such blocks vary considerably. For one thing, the cans, in which the blocks are molded, are made tapered to facilitate the removal of the molded blocks. The corners are more or lessunevenly rounded and the sides may be caved in at some places, and bulging out at other points, necessitating, in such machines as have come to our notice, a preliminary trimming of the ice block, but, by means of the novel clamping device of our invention, such preliminary trimming is not necessary and the ice block is held firmly in position, irrespective of variations in the shape, by the resilient clamping device.

After the ice block has been subdivided into pieces of the desired uniform size, each piece is pushed along the portion I of the table to the wrapping mechanism. 'At the extreme end of the table is placed a stack of wrapping paper 33, and one'sheet of paper from this stack is, in the first instance, laid on the table between marginal guides 3! and 32, whereupon a gate 33 is swung upon its pivot to cover the left front corner of the paper and to afiord a slide above the paper, across which a piece of ice may be pushed, finally to land on top of a wheel truck 34. It is readily appreciated, that the weight ofthe ice, on the gate 3|, exerts pressure against the underlying wrapping paper, and this pressure keeps the paper from being forced out of position when the ice is pushed on to the truck. The machine frame'is provided at each side of this truck with stationary platforms 35 and 36 which conveniently may be elevated slightly abovethe top of the truck in order that the ice, when it lands on the truck, may be properly located between these two stationary platforms for wrapping purposes. This position is best shown in Fig. 5.

The operator now manually completes the first folding operation, leaving the wrapper substantially in the position indicated in dotted outline in Figure 4 of the drawings with its side edges 1 sidewise projecting, except that, for the sake of clearness, the edges at the bottom are shown torn off close to the block of ice. On a vertically slidable post 39 is mounted an arm, fitted to carry a folding member 4| which, by the operator, is brought into registration with the top of the ice block Below the truck 34 and seated to slide vertically in the space between this truck and the twostationary platforms 35 and 35 is a folding member 42. These two folding members 4| and 42 are now, by means of a mechanism which will be hereinafter fully described, moved vertically to complete the second and third folds of the wrapping operation, and the movement of the two members is so adjusted that the lower member first comes into engagement with the wrapper to make the second fold, being closely followed by the upper member to complete the third fold.

It is noticed that the rear plate 42 is made slightly higher than the front plate, to permit it, while the member is in its normal, lowered position, to take a position in the space between the truck 34 and the platform 36, slightly higher than On the side of the machine table, beyond the end of the truck 34, is pivotally mounted a rod 38 on which a pair of folding members 31, is shown adjustably mounted. The outer ends of these members are conveniently combined by an operating rod 45, by means of which the members are swung into engagement with the ice block to complete the fourth fold of the wrapper.

The mechanism for operating the folding members 4! and 42 will now be described. A lever il is shown pivotally mounted on a link 48 at the rear end of the table, and this lever is, near the front, connected to move the post 39 vertically. A second lever 49 is at 50, intermediate its ends, iournaled at the front of the table, and the rear end of this lever is connected vertically to slide a post 5|, the top of which is fitted to support the folding members 42. The levers 41 and 49 come together at the front, and they are at this point operatively connected by a treadle 43, which treadle is pivotally mounted on the end of the lever 49 and perforated to slide on the end of the lever 47. When this treadle is depressed by the foot of the operator, it is noticed that the folding members 42, because of their close proximity of the bottom corners of the ice block, first engage the wrapper to start and complete the bottom fold before the upper folding members 4| reach the ice block. We have found, in actual practice, that the operator becomes so expert at swinging the upper folding member 4| into correct alinement with the ice block, that no further mechanism is necessary, but, for the assistance of inexperienced operators, and until such a time that the sensitiveness and correctness of their touch becomes fully developed, it is well to pro- ,vide an adjustable stop 52 on the post 39, for engagement with the table frame, to limit the movement of the folding members to a position of correct alinement with the ice block. Suitable means may be provided for returning the foot treadle 43 to its initial, elevated position, and such means is here shown taking the shape of a counterbalance weight 53 adjustable on a pivoted lever 54 which, by means of a link 55, is operatively connected with the lever 41.

The construction of the folding members 31 is important. As the two members may be exactly alike, except that one is right hand and the other left hand, the description of one will sufiice for both. In the bottom of each member is seated .a plunger 5'1, terminating in a piston 58, and this piston is seated to slide in a cylinder 59 within the flange of each folding member 31 to force a small quantity of glue from within the cylinder through an inwardly directed port 6 I discharging through the inner wall of the flange, close to its rear edge, as best shown in Fig. 6. This plunger comes into contact with the platforms 35 and 36, when the member is swung on its pivotal rod 38 to effect the third fold of the wrapper, thereby to press the plunger into the cylinder and to cause a small, predetermined quantity of glue to be ejected through the port BI, to be deposited on the outer surface of this fold. When the member again is drawn away from the ice, the plunger 5'! is free to withdraw, and its return is aided by a suitable spring 62.

The flange is made hollow to provide a reservoir 63 for the glue, and it is noticed that the cylinder 59 is seated Within this reservoir. The

piston 58 closes the lower, open end of the cylin- I der, and this piston is made with a cylindrical recess 58*, communicating through a passage 58 with the glue reservoir. A ball 64 is shown seated in the recess of the piston. From this it is seen that the glue fro-m the reservoir is free to rise through the piston and into the cylinder to the level of the glue within the reservoir. It is further noticed that the ball E4 acts as a check valve to prevent the glue from sinking back into the reservoir when the piston is pushed farther into the cylinder by the plunger 51 and that, as a consequence, some glue is forced through the passage and the port 6!. In the cylinder, above the piston, is firmly secured a hollow plug 65, in which a ball 56 is seated to form a second check valve, the function of which is to prevent glue above this check valve from sinking back into the cylinder when the piston is retracted. Also that, as the piston is retracted, a vacuum is formed between the piston and the upper check valve and that this vacuum is filled by glue from the reservoir drawn through the passage through the piston.

In this manner it is seen that, once the cylinder and passage above the cylinder are filled with glue, they remain filled, and that each subsequent pump stroke of the piston positively forces a uniform quantity of glue through the discharge orifice 5!. As the member normally stands in the forwardly inclined position of Fig. 4, there is no tendency on the part of the glue to leak out through the port 6! which, in this position, is higher than any part of the reservoir. A refilling screw cap 61 may conveniently close the reservoir at the top. The outer end of the plunger 5'! is threaded to receive a cap 68, which may be rotated on the plunger to adjust the stroke of the piston and thereby to determine the quantity of glue to be expelled each time a fold is completed by the member.

The folding and gluing mechanism just described has been found highly satisfactory, but the detail construction of the mechanism may, of course, be modified, and is here illustrated merely for the purpose of explaining the principle of its operation.

In line with the movement of the truck 34 is a second truck 54, on which a pair of flanges 10, of a member designed to complete the last fold, is mounted. The ice supporting truck 34 and the folding member carrying truck 44, are both mounted on a track 59, and it is to be noted that the top surface of the truck 34 is slightly higher than that of the truck 44. When the latter is pulled forward by the operator to complete the last folding operation, it is to be observed that it pushes the truck 34 forward. The ice is however, held against displacement by a bar ll of the machine frame. The result is, that the ice block gradually is transferred to the truck 44, on which it comes to rest when the latter is fully advanced to complete the folding operation.

The construction of this truck is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to include the side flanges 19, both of which may be alike, except that one is right hand and the other left hand. Within each side flange, and substantially in the center of thefiange, is seated a heating element 73 which, in a suitable manner, is electrically connected to be energized by a source of electric current M. This heating element is provided for the purpose of setting the glue which was deposited on the outside of the fourth fold of the wrapper. When the truck 34 now is advanced to complete the final fold,

element 13 causes the glue to set sufliciently to prevent the folds from coming apart when the Wrapped ice is delivered from the machine. The folding members It are preferably held spring suspended, substantially as indicated in Fig. 8, yieldingly to press the folds together to set the glue.

A vertical post 15 is mounted to rotateon the machine frame behind, and to one side of the track 69, and this post is shown made with a horizontal member l5 which extends forward beyond the length of the truck. A pawl 16 is pivotally mounted on the forward end of this member, and this pawl is free to yield in one direction for the purpose of permitting the truck 44, carrying the wrapped piece of ice, to pass under the pawl when the truck is retracted. When the truck later is again pulled forward to complete the wrapping of the next following piece of ice, it is noticed that this pawl comes in contact with the front surface of the ice on the truck and, as the pawl is by a pin 11 prevented from yielding in the opposite direction, it is seen that the wrapped packagefof ice, held by this pawl, is caused to slide off the forwardly moving truck. This completes the sawing and wrapping operation, and the wrapped package may now be carried away in any suitable manner.

It was above stated that the loading portion of the machine was provided with stops for properly locating the block of ice to be divided into pieces of different sizes. It becomes necessary also to adjust the wrapping mechanism to accommodate ice blocks of various sizes. To this end, the paper gages 3| and'32 are made removable and additional gages l8 and 79 are provided to accommodate paper of greater width for wrapping larger pieces of ice. The flanges of the folding member 31 may be axially slidable on their pivot for correct adjustment to the width of ice block to be wrapped. The folding member flanges 70, of the truck 44, may be similarly adjustable as to width or, if preferred, the truck may be lifted off bodily and replaced by a truck of the proper Width. The folding members 4| and 42 should in that case also be correspondingly spread or otherwise changed to accommodate the size of ice block to be wrapped. The means of effecting such adjustment is of lesser importance, but it is necessary to provide adjustable means, and the instrumentalities shown are thought sufiicient to illustrate such means.

Various other features of importance are to be noted. Within the flanges of the folding member 4| is seated a plurality of slidable rods 80, and these rods are held downwardly projected by suitable springs 8|. These rods are provided for the purpose of yieldingly pressin the overlapping edges of the manually folded wrapper against the top surface of the ice to prevent displacement jection 85 abutting the stop bar 1| as best shown 1 in Fig. 4.

We claim: 1. In an ice packaging machine, the combination with meansfor delivering pieces of predetermined uniform size, of a wrapping mechanism comprising means adjustable to the size of piece delivered for successively folding wrapping paper around each piece of ice, means in one set of folding members for spraying a small amount of glue on the folds of the Wrapper, a valve mechanism in each member controlling said spraying and means incorporated in the members completing the next following folding of the wrapper over the glue spotted fold for heating the wrapper at this point to set the glue sufficiently to prevent the folds from coming open.

2. In an ice packaging machine, the combination with means for delivering pieces of ice of predetermined uniform sizes, means adjustable to the size delivered for folding a wrapper around each piece, said means comprising gages for 10- cating the paper wrapper, gages for properly locating the ice on the Wrapper, members for successively folding the wrapper around the ice, means within a set of said members for spraying a predetermined amount of glue on the wrapper folds, associated means for timing the spraying and means within the next following and final set of folding members for setting the glue to prevent the folds from coming apart when the package is discharged from the machine.

3. In an ice packaging machine, adjustable means for locating a wrapper, means for locating a piece of ice on said wrapper in position to permit the operator to fold the'wrapper around the sides and top of the ice, elements above and below the ice for successively completing the first fold of the wrapper on the ends of the ice, elements pivoted in front of the ice to be swung into engagement with the ends of the ice thereby to complete the third end fold of the wrapper, said third folding elements being provided with means for spraying glue on said third fold, and an element behind the ice and capable of being carried into engagement with the ice for the purpose of completing the fourth fold of the wrapper, said element being provided with means for setting the glue between the third and fourth fold in order to prevent the folds from coming apart when the package is removed from the machine.

4. In an ice packaging machine, the combination with means for delivering ice in pieces of uniform size, of an adjustable folding means comprising track, a truck on said track, adjustable means for locating wrapping paper, means for locating a piece of ice on a sheet of said paper above the said truck, means above and below the ice for completing the first and second end folds of the wrapper on the ice, means in front of the ice for performing the third folding operation, means for simultaneously spraying glue on the third fold of the wrapper, a second truck on the said track, said truck being made with elements for completing the fourth and final fold of the wrapper and capable of being advanced under the piece of ice for the purpose of the said fold thereby to push the first named truck out from under the ice and to receive the ice, and means embodied in the folding elements of said truck for setting the glue between the said third and fourth folds at the right place.

5. In an ice packaging machine, means for folding a wrapper around a piece of ice, said means including a track, a platform truck on said track for receivingthe piece of ice, a vertical support for folding elements above said platform, 7

ice block, elements in front of said platforms for completing the third end fold of the wrapper, elements behind said platform and manually movable toward the platform for completing the fourth and final folding of the wrapper, means embodied in the folding elements for gluing the folds together, a second truck on said track for receiving the wrapped package from the first named truck, and means embodied in said second truck for setting the glue between the folds.

6. In an ice packaging machine, a track, a truck slidable on said track, adjustable gages for locating a wrapper on said platform and truck, gages for locating a piece of ice on the wrapper above said platform, means for vertically and horizontally movable to fold the wrapper on the ends of the ice, a second truck on said track provided with folding elements and movable into engagement with the ice thereby to complete the folding of the wrapper and simultaneously to slide the said platform from under the ice for transferring the ice to the said second truck, means for applying glue to the folds of the wrapper at the right place during the folding operation, and means incorporated in the folding ele ments of said second truck for heating the folds to set the glue therebetween.

7. In an ice packaging machine, a horizontal track, a truck slidabie on said track, folding means, a second truck on the track for receiving the Wrapped ice from said first truck, a support on the machine frame extending above and beyond the said second truck when retracted, and a pawl on the end of said support, said pawl being positioned in the path of movement of the wrapped piece of ice carried away by the said truck from the said first named truck to permit the ice to pass under the said support but incapable of yielding in the opposite direction thereby to discharge the wrapped ice from the second truck when it is again drawn toward the first named truck.

8. In an ice packaging machine, means for holding a sheet of wrapper in position to be wrapped, a track, a platform truck movable on said track, means for properly locating a piece of ice on the wrapper on said platform, elements for successively folding the ends of the wrapper against the end surfaces of the ice, means for applying glue between the end folds, means for setting the glue to prevent the folds from again coming open, and means for adjusting the aforesaid gage and folding elements to accommodate pieces of ice of different sizes, and means for carrying away the wrapped package from said platform.

9. An ice packaging machine comprising a table, a support vertically slidable on said table, elements carried by said support for folding the ends of a wrapper from below and above the table against the end surfaces of a piece of ice on said table, elements in front of the ice to complete end folds of the wrapper from the front, a glue reservoir within each of said last named elements, a plunger in the end of each element for contact with said table when the said elements are brought into engagement with the end surfaces of the ice and its wrapper to force the said plunger into the said reservoir and thereby to eject a spray of glue at the right time through a slit in each element onto the fold which is being completed by the element.

10. The combination with means for locating a piece of ice relative to a wrapper to be manually folded around the sides and the top of the ice, of means for foldingi the ends of the wrapper, means for yieldingly holding the edges of the wrapper pressed against the top of the ice during the'commencement of the end folding operations to prevent displacement of the wrapper, means for gluing the folds of the wrapper together, means for carrying the wrapped package away from themachine, and glue setting elements carried by said last named means.

11. In an ice packaging machine, a table fitted to hold a sheet of wrapper in proper position, a transverse track on said table, a platform movable on the track onto which a block of ice from the table may slide, a gate hinged at one side of the track over which the ice must travel thereby to swing the gate down against the wrapper to prevent displacement of the latter, and elements operable to fold the wrapper around the ice.

12. In a machine for wrapping blocks of ice, a table provided with adjustable locating means for a sheet of wrapper, a gate hinged on the table at one edge of the wrapper to be swung downward by a block of ice passing on to said wrapper to hold the'wrapper against displacement, elements operable to fold the wrapper around the ice, and means for applying glue to the folds of the wrap? per.

13. In an ice packaging machine, means for vertically folding a wrapper over the ends of a block of ice, elements for laterally completing one fold at each end, means carried by said elements for spraying binder on said folds, said means including a valve arranged to open at the end of the folding operation, means for laterally completing the remaining fold at each end, and elements carried by said lateral folding means for setting binder to prevent the folds from coming apart.

14. A table having a transverse track, a truck movable on said track slightly below the table top to permit a block of ice to slide onto said truck, means for applying a binder of the folds of the wrapper, a truck on the track slightly below the level of said first named truck for pushing the latter out from under the wrapped ice and onto the second truck, and means carried by said second truck for setting the binder on the folds to prevent the wrapper from coming apart.

15. In a wrapping machine, a track, a receiving truck on said track on which to place a sheet of wrapper and the article to be wrapped, means for folding said wrapper around the article, and a delivery truck on the track positioned to slide under the wrapped package and to push the receiving truck ahead out of the way.

16. In a wrapping machine, a track, a receiving truck on said track on which to place a sheet of wrapper and the article to be wrapped, means for folding said wrapper around the article, means associated with said folding means for applying binder to the folds of the wrapper, and a delivery truck positioned to slide under the wrapped package and to push the receiving truck out of the way.

17. In a wrapping machine, a track, a receiving truck on said track on which to place a sheet of wrapper and the article to be wrapped, means for folding said wrapper around the article, means associated with said folding means for applying binder to the folds of the wrapper, and a delivery truck positioned to slide under the wrapped package and to push the receiving truck out of the way, said delivery truck including means for the binder.

' 18. In a wrapping machine a track, a truck on the track for receiving a wrapper and the article to be wrapped, folding means, a delivery truck on said folding means for applying a binder to the folds of the Wrapper, and means for setting the binder. V V f '19. In a wrapping machine, the combination witha support for an article to be wrapped; of

elements arranged in pairs movable relative to said support for folding a wrapper around the article, and means associated with one pair of elements for applying a binder to the wrapper, said means including plungers positioned to contact with the support'as the elements approach the support and thereby to force binder through said elements and to spray the binder on to the folds of the wrapper.

20. In a wrapping machine, a track, a trans verse bar fixed above said track, a truck on the track for receiving an article to be wrapped,

'means for yieldingly maintaining said truck in position against said bar, and a second truck positioned to slide under the article and thereby to push said first truck away from said bar, the latter preventing displacement of the article as it settles on the second truck, the said yielding means restoring the first truck to its position against the said bar when the second truck is pulled away.

21. In a wrapping machine having a delivery chute, a track, a truck on said track for receiving an article to be wrapped, a delivery truck on the track movable beneath the article to push the first truck out from under the article, means permitting the free passage of the article carried away on the delivery truck but blocking the return of the article when said truck again is drawn toward the receiving truck, thereby causing the article to drop on to the said delivery chute.

22. In an ice wrapping machine, a platform, means for guiding ice in pieces of predetermined shape and weight on to said platform, means adjustable to the shape of the piece of ice for successively folding a wrapper around the ends of the piece from bottom, top, front and rear, and from right and left to complete the last two end folds; means for applying binder between the said last two folds, a delivery truck for receiving the package from said platform, and means associated with said truck for setting the binder to 'i prevent the folds from coming apart.

HAROLD C. SI-IEVLIN. JOSEPH P. SHEVLIN.

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