US2538564A

US2538564A - Bread-wrapping machine

Info

Publication number: US2538564A
Application number: US679736A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jensen Thormod; Frederick A Drury
Original assignee: AMF Inc
Current assignee: AMF Inc
Priority date: 1946-06-27
Filing date: 1946-06-27
Publication date: 1951-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1968-01-16

Description

T. JENSEN ET AL BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Jan. 16, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27, 1946 INVENTORS THORMOD JENSEN B FREDERICK A. DRURY M\; i I; I

ATTORNEY v1 WEN \NN Jan. 16, 1951 T. JENSEN ETAL 2,538,564

BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG, 2

INVENTORS THORMOD JENSEN P 15/? EY FREDERICK DRURY 128 1 ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1951 T. JENSEN ET AL 2,538,564

' BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 19a 1 J90 194 1298196 200 F5 21,2 ,2 J26 124 J36 J50 M4 /'60 f J68 J26 J24 J42 J35 150 INVENTORS THORMOD JENSEN BY FREDERICK A. DURY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1951 STATES PATENT o FF lc I 1. 25538564 Thonnor l jjifmzifelton, N'. Y., and f red'erick A. D'i-nry', Jersey.

City, N. J., assignors to AmerioaiijMaehine & Foundr Oompany;a cor ora-- Application June 27, 1946", 'seriai-imi.v 679,736 1401mm. (Cl. 93" 2 This invention relates to: wrapping machines suitable for wrapping an article such asbread, and. more. particularly to providingzmechanism for-applying a tear strip andforming. a tear tab onthe bread wrapper to facilitate-the removal of the-wrapperfrom thearticle; and also relates to animproved --method of incorporating a tear strip with a wrapper.

Heretofore, various :devices have been d'esigned forapplying tear strips to wrapped articles 'such as cigarettes and: chewing gum packages. In packages of this type, the: tear tab is: usually formed adjacent'the edge; of theaarticles and the projection of :the tab from the ar ticle=*has been theinatural extension of the tear tab." In: theifi'eld of bread wrapping; however; .no'such device is available;

One Of. the :obstaeles in". providing a tear strip to=a bread loafis'rthefactithat the seain where the tear tab is formed isen the bottom" central portion of a' breadiloafiand not always-adjacent the edgelo'f the leaf; As a result; the tab would have a tendency'to adhere assay-worms wrapper inaking itdifioultto grip in thisformand "thus be oi httleif any; assistance to the consumer:

It is; therefore; air obj ect' of this "invention to pro ide a: teartab and a tear Stripwhi'dh can be'formed'and used- 'on' an article-such as abread loaf which is'so' constructed'andarranged that a-customer-ean easily" find andpribthe-tab to remove'the' wrapper:

Another object or the present invention {Si-to provide; at I a minimum cost, mechanism which can be readily. incor orated with most" bread wrappingmachines 'n'ow'on the market 'and'which can apply tear strips to "various "types ofiwrappiiig material;

A-i."iother objeot'is to provideaipositi've means for en aging a teartab and bending it msuch a Wayfas'to cause it "to'proiect from the wrapped article.

A further: object is .to' pr'ovide a novel type of cutter which will be usedIin conjunctionwithj-the tearstrip-to'faeilitate the'formation of a'tab.

A further-object is 'toprovide "a method, of applying tear strip material to bread wrappers to form wra ed loaves 'ofbread' having tear tabs.

Otherobjects and features of the invention will appearas thearticular physical embodiment seleictedtd-ilius'trat the invention progresses. In the acconipajnying drawings which form a part of this specification; like charactersoi reference have been applied. to? corresponding" parts throughout the several views whichmak'e .uDJthe drawings;

v Figure 1 is a schematicside elevation illustrating the tear strip and web feeding mechanism of the wrapping devioe Fig-lire 2' is a detailed premise of; th teafstrip 2 applying. mechanism taken on line 2-2- of Figur'e'1;'

Figure -3 is apartial plan view of-the loaf runwa illustrating, the tear tab bendingmechanisin asseenfrom line 3-3 of Figure 1 Figure 4-is a partial plan view of the-severing andJsIitting knives Figure 5 is a sectional'end elevation of the same taken on line 5--5 0t Figure 4;.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing, the severed endfof the wrapper web .and-aflix'ed tear strip materiaLand the longitudinal slits on each side of the tear-strip; I

Figure 7 is a detail view showinghow a rotat ing brush. engages and forms the downwardly. extendingvtear tab;.

Figure 8 is a perspective View ofthe, wrapped article illustrating thetear tab; v

Figure 9 is a plan view of-amodified method of forming the tear tab; and a Figure 10 -is. a side elevationof same. 1

A Web W (Fig. 1) consisting of suitable heatsealing. bread wrapping material such-ascellophane, is fedfrom a reel R-between rollers 21] and Z2. The tear strip' T. consistingrof suitable material such as:cellophane;- is fedfrom a-spool S over a guide roller 24, then under a stationary stud 26,-and over a roller 2-8; The roller 28mpplies asolvent to the: tear-stripe causing the sur-- face of the stripto become soft-and tacky which facilitates its being affixed to theweb- W:

The? tear= strip 'then' passesunder' roller 20, around a guide roller 33, and then between rollers 20-:and=-2 to be affixed to the-wrapper web W. The-combined 'wrapper web and tear strip: WT passbetweer'r'roller 22'and an irone'r block*32 having a heater'elementsli to dry the tacky cel= lulose coatingan'd' aifix' the strip to the wrapper web so that'the tear strip, as it is fed through thermachi'rie, will'not become displaced with re spectito the-wrapper. if the wrapper web-W con- Si'Sfis of wax paper, a suitable heating element may beemploye'd'to preheat the wrapper web b'efore'the tear strip is affiXed thereto. When the wrapper web -W*consists of wax paper, the tear'strip' may be afli'xedto the wrapper web by heating elements and the use of solvents on the tear strip will not be necessary. The webWfI is then ledaround a suitably driven reed roller 3'9 and t'ravels upwardly around feed-roller 38, downwardly around a floating-roller 4!} and con tinues upwardly again passing over a roller '42'on to a guide shelf 44 of the wrapping machine. The floating roller 40 is guided in its vertical movement by the guide-way 46 which forms a part of the machine;

To facilitate the installation and removal of the strip applying device, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the-name 4a is provided with open-endslots' 50 which are adapted to rest on bars 52 mounted in the bread wrapping machine.

Collars 53 (Fig. 2), having set screw 55, are

provided for positioning the device longitudinally so that the strip can be applied to any desired portion of the wrapper web W. The frame 48 is equipped with

shafts

54 and 56; the former shaft carries the guide roller 24 and the latter shaft supports the guide roller 30 and an arm Arm 58 supports a stud 59 on which is mounted the strip applying roller 20. of arm 58 carries an ironer block 32 and the other end carries a stud 60. One end of a spring 02 is connected to the stud 60 and the other end is connected to stud 64 mounted in frame 48. The spring 62 acts to hold the rol er 20 and ironer block. 32 in engagement with ro ler .22. Frame 48 is provided with a track 66 adapted to receive the base 68 of the so vent receptacle I and a locking screw 12 provides means for securing the receptacle in place. The solvent applying roller 28 is mounted on a shaft I4 turning on trunnions 16 carried by the receptacle 10.

The articles to be wrappedare intermittently propelled over a runway p ate 18 (Fig. 1) by suitable means not shown. A reciprocating pusher 80 of the wrapping machine conveys the article A from the runway plate 18 on to the lifter table 82 when the table is in its down position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. On approaching lifter table 82, the article encounters the hanging end of the web WT, shown in dotted lin s, and moves the same on to the tablewherebv the web. partly encircles the article. When the article enters on the table 82, the web becomes clamped in' a manner similar to that shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,385.706 issued to T. Jensen, at which time an arm 84 is actuated by suitable means (not shown) and lifted from enga ement with the wrapper we resting on the shelf 44. thus ermitting the article to draw material from the reels R and S.

When the article is in pos ti n on table 82, the pusher 80 retreats to its starting pos t on in readinessto engage the succeeding article. A pair of conventional or other suitable tucker plates (not shown), carried by the lifter tabe B2, engage the extending side we s of the wrapper and fold the same against the article as the same enters on to the table. With the article thus positioned, the table is swung to its up position. On approaching this latter station, suitable folder plates (not shown) en a e the extending top 'webs of the wrapper and fold them down a ainstthe article. If desired, U. S. Patent No. 2,391,316, issued to T. Jensen on December 18, 1945, may be referred to for a more detailed showing Of the operation of the lifter table and fo ding mechanism.

A lap roller 86, carried by arms 88, now acts on the wrapper web and draws additional material from the reels R and S to provide sufficient web for the initial folding of the succeeding article to be wrapped. With a suflicient length of webdelivered, suitable mechanism such as the arm 84 descends and clamps the web that is resting on shelf 44. At this time, a knife 90, having a scalloped edge (Figs. 1, 4 and of conventional design, is actuated in a manner similar to that shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,385,706 and patent issued to F. R. Schmitt No. 1,851,295, and severs the web WT. The free end of web WT then falls to a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and will be engaged by the next succeeding article advanced by the pusher 80 in the manner 'just described.

One end of the end flaps of the wrapper.

The knife 90 has attached to its upper surface a tear tab forming knife 92 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5). Two spaced extending ears 94 are formed on the slitting knife 92. The knife 82 is secured in position by means of two screws 98, extending through two elongated slots 96, which permits the knife to be adjustably moved with respect to knife 80. As the cutter is advanced to sever the web,

the ears 94 first engage and pierce the web to form two elongated slits on each side of the tear strip. The continued advancement of the cutter then brings the serrated cutting knife 90 into engagement with the web WT and severs the same.

With web WT severed, pushers I02 depending from the lower run of conveyor chains H04 engage and propel the article A from the lifter table 82 into a channel formed by end folder plates I06 and I08 and a bottom folding and sealing table H0. In entering said channel the hanging end of the wrapper web is folded by the leading edge of plate III] and thereby completes the bottom lap of the article. The extending side webs of the wrapper are'folded against the ends of the article by the leading edge N2 of each folder plate I06. As the article is being conveyed rearwardin the machine, the extending bottom flaps of the wrapper web enter into the fold-way II4 of the folder plates I05 and I08,'whereby the flaps will be folded upward against the article to complete the wrapping of the same. Each of the folder plates I06 and I08 is equipped with suitable heaters! I6 and I I8 respectively, the same being provided to start the initial heat-sealin The bottom sealing table in the present application consists of spaced plates H0 (Fig. 3) thus forming a longitudinal slot I20 so positioned that the tear strip zone Z will not be heat-sealed in its travel over said table.- Each plate H0 is equipped with a suitable heater I22 provided'to heat-seal the bottom flap of the wrapper, with the exception of the portion adjacent the tear strip zone. In traveling rearward, the article emerges from the folder channel and'enters into the sealing chamber consisting of the sealer table III) andspaced plates I 24, the latter being provided with suitable heater members I26 to heatseal the end flaps of the wrapper.

In entering the sealing chamber above mentioned, the articles pass over a rotating brush I28 (Fig. 1) which is located in the slot portion I20 of sealer table II 0. The brush I28 is so mounted that it extends upwardly to engage the bottom of the wrapped article and thereby the slitted portion N of the web is brushed downwardly out of engagement with the article to bend the tear tab P (Fig. 7) so that it will project and be easily gripped by the consumer. Since the tear strip zone Z does not have any heating element coming in contact with the slitted portion of the wrapper, the formation of the tear tab P by the brush I28 is facilitated. The spaced slits-N (Fig. 6) also facilitates turn-,- ing back the wrapper to form a tear tab. The longitudinal slits N offer the advantage of producing a comparatively large tab which can be easily seen and gripped by the consumer.

The rotating brush I 28-(Figs. 1 and 3) is adjustably mounted on a shaft I30 turning in bearing brackets I32 secured to table IIB. A pulley I34, fastened on shaft I30, is driven by a belt I35 from a pulley not shown on the drive shaft of the machine. The peripheral speed of the brush is 51,491} that it is greater than the forward movei mentof each article in order-thatthezpropervtab formation-Bean be effected.-

The wrapped article, after passing the ta-h forming brush" I28, passes over a series otindependently acting sealingfingerss I38 adapted'to 'seal' the bottom flapof the wrapper; Said fingers areprovidedto engage the irregular orhollow bottom contour'of articles such as leaves of broad and-thus assure a-perfectly-sealed bottom flap. The sealer fingers" I38'areomitted at the tear strip zone-so that the Same willnot be heat sealed; A stationary shaft Mt, whichsupports the sealer fingers, is provided-with" a spacer-I 52 (Fig. 9') so positioned that it spaces the sealer fingers 538' from the tear strip zone. Eachfinger I38 has a depending arm I44 (Fig. 1") supporting one end of'a tension spring Hi5 connecting to a spring post Ifiilsupported by the take-01f" table I5Il'of the machine. The plurality of sealer fingers are arranged in the space between table II!) and, table I59 and the springs I46 normallyten'd to hold t e fingers in their up position in the path of'thearticles. A strip heater I52 serves to heat the fingers I38 in order that they cansealv the bottom flap, of the wrapper.

In twin-pack or pantry loaf'forming machines, it is advantageous to po ition the tear strip in the center of the package longitudinally as shown in Fig. 3 in order that the wrapper. can be opened to expo e the twinpack loaves or, in the case of pantry loaves, the two'different. types of bread enveloped will be. exposed. The pantry loaf is formed by combining two half sections of bread to form a complete loaf. Thus, when the wrapper is parted in the center, the contents will be separated permitting the same to be used at the discretion of the consumer.

When a tear strip web T consists of heat-sealing material. the solvent receptacle II!- (Fig. 1) may be removed from its holder 48 or moved sufficiently so that roller 28 will not contact with passing web T. It will be understood thatthe strip will be threaded around its several guide rollers and feed rolleras heretofore-described. The strip '1 becomes affixed to thewrapper web W when passing between the roller 22 and-the V ironer block 32.

If tear strip T consists of paper'ormaterialother than heat-sealing material. receptacle-1B may be supplied with an adhesive that'roller 28*will apply a coating-of adhesive tostrinT. In such an in tance, the tear strip T. after being guided about the various rollers shown in Fig; 1-, will be-fixed to the wrapper web W a-sit passes between'roller 22 and the ironerblock-Bt. The ironer block 32' serves to dry the adhesive :and thus avoids smudging of the difierent part of the machine. that the strip passes over.

The. wrapper-web may also be fed withouta tear strip band. In this case, the longitudinal slits N will serve to form atear tab T when engaged by the revolving brush i228- heretotoredescribed. By pulling the formed tear-tab just mentioned, the wrapper around the article will be parted toexpose the enclosed contents.

In Figures 9 and 19, a modified form of theinvention is shown for forming the tear tab at the bottom portion of the wrapper; In this embodiment, the sealer table consists of spaced plates We and 555, the former being made wide and the latter comparatively. narrow in order to form a longitudinal slot I58 near the end of the article to be wrapped, A revolving brush use; provided. 'to-for'm the-tear tab P, iscarried'by an intermittentlyrswingingramz lit'zeadjustablyy a cross shaftxliidpf thesmachinez. WKiI'e-in-Ithe present-disclosure,- thebrush. I50 istsh'owm to revolve, it could also b'ermadestationarwbecause the swinging movementimparted to the brush strip back to form a-teartab1= Thehnb'of arm IE2 is providedi'fwith as shouldered bushing I66.

Hi8; The-brush and pulleycombinationds loosely mounted on astud I18supported'irr arm I62:

The intermittent oscillating motion imparted to arm-I 621s accomplished by a: shoe Isflmounted on each of the conveyor pusher. armsh'afts I82: As the article is being'advancedfrearwardly; in t e machine. shoe ISDtrips an upstanding arm I84. placed in its path of'travelj'and' depresses thesame whereby an arm I86 also moves down= wardly. Arms I84" and I 86' are mountedon a stud I 88 "carried by a bracket J90 j secured *to, the conveyor chain support bar I 292- of the machine; The descent of arm I'Bdcauses a link" Il-m 'connecting to a bell'j-crank lever I ,1 to. swing-the lat ter about its fulcrum I88. The verticalextend in arm 20!) of'lever I96jis provided" with a roller of a crank arm 2%. keyed to shaft I64.

The motion thus impartedto shaftIBl'causes' it to. swingarm I62 and its brushIIilJ. into and out of engagementwith the bottomof'itherpassing articles. Thepositioningpfarm. I62 may be shifted I, to suit the location: of the longitudinal slot in the sealer table, which isvariedtaacfcommodate different packages.- To accomplish this object; the bushing I 66 is provided r with; a keyway adapted-to slide-0n the. long key 208- in shaftI'M i When oorrectlyplaced; so that the brush engages in the slot; a setscrew- 2I0 in-the hub of arms: I6 2 x tightened: to: securecth-es: arm

and;bushing to the=shaft;

When the shoe I80 engages arms I84;- theiilatter is: in its dotted. position; I 83: holding. the: brush I60 in its dotted line position l5.9'=.s. lrrzthisrmanrner, ,aportion- 01' article A hasrpassedlsaidibrush when the same is-wimits'starting position; The

advance of shoe' I 89' moves the arm I84, carry ingbrush-I 60; to the position'shown full: lines. The brush ISO is --then-ready-to engage the b'ottomof the passing article as' showmin fullli'nes in Fig. 10. Thecontii iuedadvance of shoe IBEl depre ses arm I '84 to its down-position -I 85," shown in dottedlines and causes arm N52 "to" continue advancing the brush I 60 to the'dotted line --position;

The brush H59, in-- approaching position'l 61, engagesthebottom of the wrapped article and brushes-the slittedportion-of th'eweb downwardly and also wipes'againstthe'bottom ofthe'article to forma tear tab P as sh'owrri'rrFig: 10*. While the drawingsshow the tear strip-"zone freefrom any heat=sealing element to r facilitate forming the tear tab; the invention could also: be prae fined-'- if a heat' 'sealing element" were allowed to remaindnthe tear strip zone." The sh0e-l86i'6 of 'sufii-cient" length tohold arm I84 depressed until the article has passed the range-- of the swinging-brush I601- In-this manner; the possibilitypf disturbing, the' formedtab-is overcome;

When thetrailinged'ger of 'saidij 'shbe I 8 IF passes its engaging-*arm- Hi4: a-spring 212" retarnsthearm I62 and arm I 84 to their starting position. A stud 2I3 in bracket :ISBis provided to act as a stop for arm I 84. An arm 2M, keyed on shaft IE4 at its upper end supports a stud 2E5 which is provided to carry one end of sp i g 2H he other end of spring 2I2 is connected to a spring post 2 I 8 fastened in table I54.

A series of bottom sealer fingers l38 are incorporatedand arranged as shown in Fig. 9 in such a manner that member I 12 spaces the sealer fingers from the tear strip zone to avoid heatsealing the tear strip. 7

, The invention above described may be varied in constructions within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What we claim is:

1. In a wrapping machine for applying a wrapper and tear strip about an article to be wrapped, a runway, mechanism for forwarding articles to be wrapped along said runway, mechanism for applying the wrapper and tear strip about articles being forwarded along said runway, heat-sealing means positioned in said runwa adapted and arranged to heat-seal the overlapped portions of the wrapper and tear strip, a rotary brush positioned in said runway adapted and arranged to engage the end of the tear strip and brush it away from the wrapped article to form, a tear tab.

2. A machine for wrapping articles such as bread, comprising, a wrapper feeding mechanism, a tear strip feeding mechanism, a means for joining the tear strip to the wrapper, a wrapper applying station, means for forwarding an article to be wrapped to said station, mechanism for applying the wrapper to the article to be wrapped, means for advancing said article from said station to a heat-sealing unit, said heat-sealing unit being adapted and arranged to remain out of contact with the portion of the wrapper carrying said tear strip, and means for pushing a portion of said wrapper and tear strip away from the wrapped article to form a readily accessible tear tab for gripping.

3. A wrapping machine comprising, a support for a roll of wrapping material, a support for a roll of tear strip material, mechanism for draw- .ing on simultaneously wrapper material and tear strip material from both of said rolls, mecha-,- nism for joining the tear strip to said wrapper material, a wrapper applying station, means for pulling off a sufi'icient quantity of wrapper material and tear strip material from said rollers, .a cutter for severing the wrapper and tear strip material removed from said rolls of wrapper and tear strip material, said cutter carrying means for forming slits in the wrapper on either side of said tear strip adjoining the point of severance of said wrapper and tear strip, means for applying the wrapper and tear strip about the article wrapped, means for heat-sealing the open seams of said wrapped article, means for forwarding said wrapped article along a runway,

anism for cutting a tear tab. mechanism for forwarding said wrapped articles with a cut tear tab along a predetermined path having an elongated opening formed therein, and a moving member for engaging said out tear tab to bend it way from the package.

5. In a wrapping machine having a support for holding a supply of wrapping material, a support for holding a supply of tear strip material, feeding means for feeding wrapping material and tear strip material together simultaneously to a wrapping station, means for applying the wrapper and tear strip about the article to be wrapped, a wrapper cutter for severing the wrapper after ,a suificient amount of wrapping and tear strip material has been removed from the source of supply to apply about the article to be wrapped, a tear strip cutter connected to said wrapper cutter for severing the tear strip and wrapper portion attached thereto to form a tab, forwarding means for forwarding the wrapped articles along a runway having a longitudinal opening formed in the lower bed thereof, and a traveling member adapted and arranged to engage and bend the severed tear strip tab to cause it to project from the wrapped article.

6. In a wrapping machine of the type used for wrapping bread loaves, a support for holding a supply of wrapper material, a support for holding a suppy of tear strip material, a guide arrangement for feeding said wrapper material and tear strip material together to a wrapper applye ing station, a heat-sealing element for causing the tear strip material to adhere to the wrapper material, means for rorwarding an article to be wrapped to the wrapper applying station and for removing a suflicient amount of wrapper and tear strip material from the source of supply, means for applying said wrapper and tear strip material about said article to be wrapped, cutting means for severing the wrapper and tear strip material in such a way as to form a tab, means for forwarding said wrapped articles past sealing mechanism, said sealing mechanism being constructed and arranged to remain free from engagement with that portion of the wrapper to which the tear strip adheres, and means for engaging the tear strip tab and turning it back to project from the wrapped article to permit it to be readily gripped.

7. In a wrapping machine of the type used for wrapping bread loaves, a support for holding a supply of wrapper material, a support for holding a supply of tear strip material, a guide arrangement for feeding said wrapper material and tear strip material together to a'wrapper applying station, a heat-sealing element for causing the tear strip material to adhere to the wrapper material, means for forwarding an article to be wrapped to the wrapper applying station and for removing a sufficient amount of wrapper and tear strip material from the source of supply, means for applying said wrapper and tear strip material about said article to be wrapped, cutting means for severing the wrapper and tear strip material in such a way as to form a tab, means for forwarding said wrapped articles past sealing mechanism, said sealing mechanism being constructed and arranged to remain free from engagement with that portion of the wrapper to which the tear strip adheres, a traveling brush, a support for said traveling brush, and actuating means for moving said brush in and out of engagement with the wrapped article to turn back and form a projecting tear tab.

8. In a wrapping machine of the type used for wrapping bread loaves, a support for holding a supply of wrapper material, a support for holding a supply of tear strip material, a guide arrangement for feeding said wrapper material and tear strip material together to a wrapper applying station, a heat-sealing element for causing the tear strip material to adhere to the wrapper material, means for forwarding an article to be wrapped to the wrapper applying station and for removing a sufficient amount of wrapper and tear strip material from the source of supply, means for applying said wrapper and tear strip material about said article to be wrapped, cutting means for severing the wrapper and tear strip material in such a way as to forma tab, means for forwarding said wrapped articles past sealing mechanism, said sealing mechanism being constructed and arranged to remain free from engagement with that portion of the wrapper to which the tear strip adheres, and a brush mechanism for causing said brush to travel over a predetermined path to bring the brush into engagement with the bottom portion of the wrapped article to turn back the tear tab, said means being adapted and arranged to bring said brush in and out of engagement with the wrapped article.

9. A machine for wrapping articles such as bread, comprising, a source of supply of wrapper material and tear strip material, a wrapper applying station, means for feeding wrapper and tear strip material from said source of supply to said wrapper applying station, means for applying said wrapper and tear strip material about the article to be wrapped at said wrapper applying station, a cutter for severing the wrapper and tear strip material, a runway having a longitudinal opening therein under the portion of the wrapped article having the tear strip, a traveling arm adjoining said longitudinal opening, a brush mounted on said arm, and means for actuating said arm and brush to cause a tear tab to be formed on the article as it is forwarded along said runway.

10. A method of forming tear tabs on wrapped articles such as bread consisting of, feeding wrapper and tear strip material to a wrapper applying station, wrapping said wrapper and tear strip material about the article to be wrapped, cutting said wrapper and tear strip material in such a way as to form a tear tab, heat-sealing the oyerlapped portions of the wrapper, and bending the tear tab in a direction which causes it to project from the wrapped article.

11. The method of forming tear tabs on wrapped articles such as bread consisting of, removing wrapper material from a source of supply, removing tear strip material from a source of supply, joining said wrapper and tear strip material together, forwarding said joined wrapper and tear strip material to a wrapper applying station, wrapping said wrapper and tear strip material over an article to be wrapped, slitting a portion of the wrapper on either side of said tear strip, severing said wrapper and tear strip transversely across said slits, and then bending said slit portion outwardly from the package to form a tear tab.

12. A bread wrapping machine comprising, a runway, a wrapper applying station, means for forwarding articles to be wrapped along said runway, a source of supply of continuous wrapper from said continuous source of supply intermit-a tently, means for applying said wrapper material about an article to be wrapped, a cutter for severing said wrapper from said continuous sup-' ply of wrapper material, slitting knives for inserting spaced slits in said wrapper material at a portion adjoining the severed end of the wrapper applied about said article, means for forwarding said article along said runway, and means for turning back said slit portion to form a tear tab.

13. A bread wrapping machine comprising, a runway having an elongated opening running along a portion of the length of said runway, a wrapper applying station, a source of supply of continuous wrapper material, a source of supply of continuous tear strip material, means for drawing off wrapper material and tear strip material simultaneously from said source of supply, means for joining said tear strip material to said wrapper material, mechanism operating to apply said wrapper about an article at a wrapper app-lying station, a cutter for severing said wrapper'and tear strip material after an article has been wrapped, slitting knives mounted on said cutter for slitting the wrapper on either side of the portion bearing said tear strip material,

mechanism for folding the cut wrapper about the article to be wrapped, means for forwarding said wrapped articles along said runway so that the portion of the wrapper having the tear strip ainxed thereto is over the open elongated portion of said runway, heat-sealing means positioned in said runway for sealing the portions of the wrapper on either side of said tear strip portion, and a traveling brush positioned for travel in said runway for engaging the end of the wrapper bearing said tear strip portion to push the tear tab in a direction away from the package.

14. A bread wrapping machine comprising, a runway, a wrapper applying station, a source of supply of continuous wrapper material, a source of supply of continuous tear strip material, means for drawing material from said source of supply of continuous wrapper material and from said source of supply of continuous tear strip material and feeding the same longitudinally in the same direction toward said wrapper applying station, mechanism for applying said wrapper and tear strip material about the article wrapped, cutting means for intermittently severing said wrapper and tear strip material, said cutting means being constructed and arranged to form a tear tab when severing said wrapper and tear strip material, and means for engaging said tear -tab to push it away from the package to facilitate the gripping of the same.

THORMOD JENSEN. FREDERICK A. DRURY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: