US2627710A

US2627710A - Wrapping machine

Info

Publication number: US2627710A
Application number: US247056A
Authority: US
Inventors: George I Hohl; Frederick H Weise; Gottlieb A Rist; John M Rist
Original assignee: PROC EQUIPMENT CORP
Current assignee: PROC EQUIPMENT CORP; PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Corp
Priority date: 1947-04-08
Filing date: 1951-08-24
Publication date: 1953-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 1970-02-10

Description

Feb. 1o, 1953 G. 1. Hom. HAL 2,627,710

WRAPPING MACHINE Original FledApril 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l s @liv 6 .dl Q' Feb. l0, 1953 G. HOHL ETAL 2,627,710

WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wil' I 27 I S@ 9 .i I I@ I 3J M :Hl

i?? 3 -j'l f4 l'lill f2-f. .s

I1 ll Il I INVENToRs.'

Feb. l0, 1953 G. l. Hol-u. r-:rAL

WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 8, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 15%2 MRM,

Feb. 10, 1953 G. 1. HoHL ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 4 Original Filed April 8, 1947 JNVENroRs.'

Patented Feb. 10, l1953 UNITED STATES @SENT 'OFFICE Processing Equipment Corporation, Freehold, N. J., a corporation of New York Original application April 8, 1947, Serial No. 740,134. Divided 'and this application August 24, 1951,`Serial No. 247,056

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic wrapping machinery; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of high speed, `continuous motion wrapping machine, this application being a division of Aparent application Ser. No. 740,134, led April 8, 1947, now Patent Number 2,592,283, granted April 8, 1952.

The present invention has for an object to provide novel means for delivering articles to be wrapped into the pockets of a rotated wrapping wheel with which the machine is provided.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oscillatable article transfer means movable between the article supply means and a rotated wrapping wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets for the reception of transferred articles and wrappers 'therefor with which the machine is provided, said transfer means operating in timed relation to the wrapping wheel movement, whereby to automatically insert articles and wrappers therefor in successive pockets of the wrapping wheel, subject to wrapping operations.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view with parts in section showing the wrapping machine of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 2 2 in Fig. l, but drawn on an enlarged scale, showing the initial position of means for inserting an article together with wrapper material into a pocket of the wrapping wheel; and Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal seci tional view, taken on line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing the position of the means for inserting an article together with wrapping material into a pocket of the wrapping wheel 'as disposed at the end of its operative stroke; and Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, takenv on line 5 5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryv vertical sectional View of the wrapping wheel and associated parts cooperative therewith to produce initial folds of the wrapper material about an article carried in a wrapping wheel pocket.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of means cooperative with the wrapping wheel to produce initial -end'folds of the wrapper nia-i 2 terial about the carried article; Fig. 8 is atop plan View of said initial end fold producing means as positioned in Fig. 7; and Fig.'9 lisa'. view similar Vto that of Fig. '7 showing an `ad= vant-:ed positionof said initial end fold producing means.

Fig. 1,0 is a 'fragmentary side elevational view of means cooperative with the wrapping `wheel to produce further end folds of the wrapper material about the carried articles.

Fig. 11 is 'afragmentary sideelevational view of means cooperative with the wrapping wheel for completing the end lfolds of the wrapper inaterial about the carried article; and Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the'same, taken on une |2+s2 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 'isa fragmentary side elevational View of means for ejecting wrapped articles from the pockets of the wrapping wheel.

Similar characters of reference are' employed inthe above described views, to indicate corre; spending parts.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative em' bodiment of this invention shown thereby isV sized and designed for wrapping candy pieces or tablets or similar articles, but it will be under= stood that, without substantial departure from design and mode of operation, the machine may be readily adapted to wrap' other kindsof 'three dimensional articles.

The wrapping machine according to this in= vention comprises a wrapping wheel'mounted-on a shaft 21E. Said wrapping `wheel 'and its sha-Vit is adapted to be continuously rotated by suitable power transmission means (not shown). The wrapping wheel, in apr'eferred form thereof as shown, comprises a pair of wheel members 22 which are fixed on the shaft 2l `in laterally spaced apart relation, the spacing being suoli as to conform to the length or width, as the case may be, oi `articles to be operated upon. Provided in the peripheries of the wheel meme bers 22 are a 'plurality of indenting, circumV ferentially spaced pocket forming notches 23, the depths of which are such as to conform 'to the thickness of the articles to be operated upon, Corresponding pocket forming notches 23y of the respective wheel members are disposed in trans"- verse alignment, whereby to cooperate in forming a Vseries of equi-spaced article and wrapper material receiving pockets around the wrapping wheel circumference. Each wheel member 22 is provided with 'radial s1ots724 which respectively border corresponding sides of the respective pocket forming' notches 23.

Pivotally supported on the respective outer ends of transverse fulcrum pins 25, which are mounted to extend through and between the wheel members 22 inwardly of or behind the inner ends of the radial slots 24, are gripper members 26. Said gripper members are thus mounted on the external faces of the wheel members 22. Each gripper member 26 is provided with an outwardly extending, inwardly offset gripper jaw 21 which is housed in a slot 24 so as to oppose one side of a pocket forming notch 23 to which it is contiguous. The slots 24, in which said gripper jaws are housed, are of widths exceeding the widths or thicknesses of said gripper jaws 21, whereby the latter may swing toward and from the pockets, being yieldably urged toward the latter by compression spring elements 28. Said compression spring elements 2B are supported in sockets 29 formed in the bodies of the gripper jaws to open toward slot sides oppos-ed to the sockets in the faces of said gripper jaws 2.

Opposed to the wrapping wheel, in the plane thereof but spaced a suitable distance from the periphery thereof, is means for delivering articles to be wrapped subject to transfer to and insertion into the pockets of said wrapping wheel. One illustrative form of said delivery means as shown comprises a rotated delivery wheel 30 which is mounted on a drive shaft 3l. The periphery of said delivery wheel 3l) is provided with a circumferential channel 32 of suitable depth and of a width conforming `to the length or width, as the case may be, of articles to be operated upon. Running over the periphery of said delivery wheel 30, Within the channel 32 thereof, is a conveyer belt 33, the top or receiving course of which advances to the delivery wheel through a correspondingly channeled loading table 34. The articles to be operated upon are passed from a supply thereof, deposited upon the surface of the loading table 34, into the channel of the latter so as to lodge on and form a train thereof upon the conveyer belt 33, whereby to be advanced with the latter over the delivery wheel.

Cooperative with the delivery wheel 30 and the conveyer belt 33 thereon is means adapted to remove the articles from said conveyer belt for delivery to a transfer means which successively carries the same to and inserts them into successive pockets of the wrapping wheel. The means for thus removing articles from the conveyer belt 33 comprises a stationary chute 35 which is suitably supported intermediate the delivery wheel and the wrapping wheel. The upper or receiving end portion 35 of said chute curves inwardly toward the delivery wheel so that its extremity is in contact with the periphery of said delivery wheel and with the surface of the conveyer belt 33 substantially tangential thereto and in descending extension therefrom. The lower or discharge end portion 33 of the chute terminates above a transfer mechanism which is mounted to oscillate between the delivery wheel and the wrapping wheel. The articles advanced by the conveyer belt 33, upon arrival at the chute, are deflected by the receiving end portion of said chute so as to be removed from the conveyer belt. and thence to move, under gravity, downwardly through to chute to the transfer mechanism.

The transfer mechanism is a very important part of this mechanism, since by its oscillations, which are automatically controlled in timed relation to the movement of the pockets of the continuously rotated wrapping wheel to a predetermined article receiving point, the articles to be wrapped are not only carried to the wrapping wheel but are successively inserted in successive pockets thereof without necessity fo-r interrupting its continuous rotary motion. Said transfer mechanism comprises an oscillator arm 3l' carried by a rock-shaft 3B so as to extend upwardly between the delivery wheel and the wrapping wheel. The oscillatory movements of said oscillator arm 3l are produced and properly timed by a rotated control cam 3E which actuates a crankarm t3 that is affixed to and extends from said rock-shaft 38; said crank-arm having an antifriction roller I which engages the periphery of said control cani. The roller 4l of the crankarm lll may be caused to yieldably follow the control arm 33 by any suitable means. One illustrative form of means for this purpose, as shown, comprises a rocker member d2 which is pivotally mounted in connection with a supporting or bearing standard 43. One arm lt of said rocker member 42 yieldably thrusts upon an antifriction roller 5.15 of a keeper lever 13B, which extends from the rock-shaft 38, under the urge 0f compression spring means ti which is operative upon the opposite arm i3 of said rocker member.

The article delivered to the transfer mechanism, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown, comprises a candy piece C, and will be so referred to hereinafter for convenience of description but without limiting intent. The upper or free end of the oscillator arm 3l is provided with mcans for supporting a candy piece C, whereby to carry the same to the wrapping Wheel, and thereupon insert the candy piece into a receiving pocket of the latter. Said means is best shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, wherein, for better illustration and understanding of its mode of operation, the movement of said means is shown as if in rectilinear plane rather than in the actual arcuate plane as occurs in practice, and which will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. l. Said means comprises a head portion i9 in which the upper end of lthe oscillator arm 3l terminates. Integral with and above said head portion iff-S is an impeller member 53, the forward end portion 5i of which projects freely beyond the head portion 49. Said impeller member 53 substantially corresponds in width to the width or length, as the case may be, of the candy piece C, and terminates at its forward extremity in a thrust face 52 which is operative to abut a candy piece so as to forwardly propel the same toward the wrapping wheel during forward swinging movement of the oscillator arm 37. Beneath the impeller member 50, said head portion iii is provided in its opposite side faces with longitudinal guide channels or ways 53. Mounted beneath said impeller member 53, subject to longitudinal movements relative thereto, is a platform plate lill provided with a bifurcate rear end portion, the legs 55 of which straddle the head portion 43 so as to be respectively slidably supported in said guide channels or ways 53. The platform plate is of a width substantially exceeding the widths of the head portion 49 and impeller member 50. Adjacent to its forward extremity, said platform plate 54 is provided with upstanding keeper lugs 55 which are so spaced, transversely yof lthe platform plate, as to straddle the impeller member 50 and a candy piece C, when said candy piece is deposited upon said platform plate in front of the impeller member, whereby to retain said ally connected with the platform 54, at points adjacent to its rearward end so as to respectively extend forwardly along the underface of said platform plate and respectively eXteri-orly of the opposite sides of the head portion 49 and impeller member 5i), are a pair of -laterally swingable gripper elements 51. The forward end por- -tions of the gripper elements 51 terminate in outwardly offset, upwardly projecting arms 53 which, in turn, terminate in forward extensions 59 disposed in a plane above the top surface of the platform plate 54. Connected with the outer ends of said extensions 59 are inwardly and laterally projecting gripper jaws 65, which'cross in front of the aforesaid keeper lugs 56. The free ends of said gripper jaws Eil terminate in chamfered jaw faces BI. The side marginal portions of the platform plate 5I are cut away Iat 62 to vprovide clearance for the arms 58 of said gripper elements. Dependent from the under face -of the platform plate 54, at the respective opposite sides thereof and exteriorly of the rearward portions of said gripper elements 51, are abutment lugs 63 to purchase compression springs 64 for yieldable in-swinging thrust upon said gripper elements. Said gripper `elements 51 straddle lthe head portion49, andare provided on their vinner sides, for normal disposition in front of the -fo-rward end of said head portion when the platform plate 54 occupies its forwardly disposed candy piece supporting position, with cam portions .55. adapted to be engaged by said head portion, when the platform plate 54 is rearwardly moved relative thereto and to vsaid impeller member 55, whereby to induce outswinging movements of the gripper jawst from initial holding relation -to a candy piece C which is supported by the advanced platform plate in front of said impeller member 50. The platform plate 54 is provided with means for controlling Aand timing its longitudinalmovements relative to the head portion 45 and impeller member 5&2. This means includes a stop ear 65 disposed to project'laterally from the rearward end portion of the platform plate at one side thereof and preferably at both sides thereof. Dependent from the discharge end portion 36 of the chute 35, at one or both sides thereof `as the case maybe, is a stop linger 61 with which a stop ear '65 of the platform plate 54 rcooperates at proper times, as will presently appear.

By its rearward swingingmovement, the oscillator arm 3l carries the head portion 45 and impeller member 50 into stopped relation contiguous to the delivery wheel 30, during which movement the rear -end of the then retracted platform plate 54 is carried into engagement with the periphery of the delivery wheel 3i), so that rearward movement of said platform plate, in company with the head portion 49 and impeller member 50, is arrested while rearward movement of ythe head portion and impeller member continues. This results in a forward sliding movement of the platform plate relative to the head portion and impeller member, whereby the forward end portion of the platform plate is pro' jected beyond the thrust face 52 of the impeller member 50, being thus disposed to receive and support a candy piece C deposited thereon from the chute 35.

It will be understood that the top face of `the impeller member 50, as it moves beneath the mouth of thedischarge end of the chute 35, oper- Said cam portions 55 arel ates las detent means for holding candy l. pieces' piece receiving and supporting.positiomthe rear-- ward movement of the impeller member 50 will carry its thrust face 52 past the dischargemouth of thechute 35, so that a candy piece C may drop from the latter onto the platform plate A54 between the keeper lugs 5t 'and infrontvof said thrust face 52 of theimpel-ler member. `By 'the time the candy piece is so deposited, the cam portions of the grip-per elements 51 will beepsengaged by the rearwardly moving vhead portion 45, thuspermitting said gripper elements to: swing inwardly under the impulsion of their springs 254, and thereby to close the'gripper vjaws 60 in holdi ing relation to the deposited candy piece. The transfer mechanism being thus loaded is ready to make its ensuing vswing toward the wrapping wheel, whereby to deliver the carried candy piece thereto (see Figs. 2 and 3).

Means is provided for delivering wrapperifma-` terial between the retracted vtransfer mechanism and the wrapping wheel. The wrapper material may be of Yany suitable kind, such e. g. astransparent cellulose or cellophane, waxedpaper :or ordinary paper. It is preferable to supply-.the

wrapper material, which is indicatedbytherefer-v ence character W, in the form of acontinuous web of suitable width adapted to be drawnlfrom a suitably positioned supply roll `5B `byia pair .of

feed rollers, through thelnip 'of .whichthe web'v is passed. From the feed'rollers 59, the 'wrapper` material passes through cutting means which,.as

illustratively shown, comprises alstationaryfknife.

it and a rotary knife 1i which is cooperative therewith. The rotary knife 1l is driven in suitably timed relation to the coordinated movementsl of the wrapping wheel and transfer mechanism, so as to sever from the web a section vof the wrapper material which is adapted to provide an individual wrapper subject to engagement between a candy piece'C as advanced by the transfer mechanism and means for holding the wrapper relative to said `candy piece until the latter and .said wrapper are ultimately together inserted in a receiving pocket of the wrapping The means for thus `holding 'the wrapper1 wheel. in engagement with yan advancing Candypiece comprises a pivoted retainer member v'i2 which extends through the space intermediate'the side sections of the wrapping wheel so that its gripping' nose 13 is opposed to the candy piece vCwhic'h'i's carried and advanced by the transfermcchanism. Said retainer member 12 .is yieldably outswung to normally project its gripping nose '13 beyond the periphery of the wrapping wheel, 'and to this end is controlled by a crank arm 14 to which is connected a pull spring 15 (see Fig; 1)

As arranged for coordinated relative movements, as a receiving pocket of the continuously rotated wrapping wheel moves toward a point opposite the transfer mechanism the forward Inovement of the latter is occurring, so that acandy'- piece C is advanced toward the wrapping wheel. The advancing candy piece rst Aengages the wrapper, so that the latter is pushed against'the gripping nose 'i3 of the yieldable retainer l'meinber l2, at which moment the wrapper section is severed from the web of wrapper material by the cutting means V'f5-JH. The transfer mechanism is timed to complete its candy piece advancing stroke at the moment a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel reaches alignment withA andv opposes thek candy piece, and `consequently thefim-ipeller member 50 of the transfer mechanism pushes the candy piece, together with the wrapper into said receiving pocket (see Figs. 4 and 5). Just before the candy piece is thus entered in a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel, and before the advancing movement of the head portion 4S and impeller member 5G is completed, the stop ear means E6 of the then advanced platform plate 54 abuts the stationary stop nger means 6l, thus arresting forward movement of the platform plate in company with the head portion i9 and impeller member t, which results in a retractive sliding movement of the platform plate relative to these parts, thus withdrawing said platform plate from its initially advanced position. Thereafter continued forward movement of the head portion L19 passes the same between and into engagement with the cam portions 55 of the gripper elements 5?, thereby outswinging the latter so as to withdraw the gripper jaws 5D from the candy piece C and out of the path of movement of said candy piece as it continues to move on under the propulsion of the impelier member 50, and ultimately into a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel (see Fig. 4) Such arresting of the platform plate 541 also restrains the same from engaging or interfering with the rotating wrapping wheel, and allows the impeller member 50 to advance freely beyond the forward end of the platform plate so as to remove the candy piece therefrom, and thereupon complete propulsion of the candy piece into a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel (see Figs. 4 and 5). Immediately the candy piece and wrapper therefor are thus deposited in a receiving pocket of the f wrapping wheel, the transfer mechanism is retracted to initial back swung position, whereby to condition the same for the reception and support of another candy piece, in the manner already hereinabove described, ready to be advanced and delivered to a succeeding receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel by repetition of the operations immediately above described.

It will be understood that the tensionally yieldable gripper jaws 2 which border each receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel will yield to the entrance of candy pieces and associated wrappers into said receiving pockets. Said yieldable gripper jaws 2 not only accommodate the receiving pockets in compensation for any slight variations which may occur in size of the candy pieces, but also, by their tensional thrust, serve to grip the candy pieces and wrappers between pocket walls, so as to firmly and securely hold the same against accidental shift in or displacement from the pockets.

It will be obvious that, as a candy piece entering a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel pushes the wrapper therewith into said pocket the wrapper will be initially folded about the back and sides of the candy piece which are contiguous to the pocket walls, and that front flaps of the wrapper, viz. a trailing front flap f and a leading front flap f', will project radially ln extension from the periphery or" the wrapping wheel, while end portions e of the wrapper will project laterally outward in extension from the external sides of the wrapping wheel.

After the candy piece with its wrapper is deposited in a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel, said candy piece and wrapper assembly is moved by the rotation of the wrapping wheel so as to successively pass various means whereby the folding of the wrapper entirely about the candy piece is accomplished. Preparatory to movement relative to said various wrapper folding means, a down-folding of the trailing front flap j of the wrapper over the outer face of the deposited candy piece is effected. The means for thus down-folding said trailing front flap f comprises a folding blade 'l which is carried at the end of an oscillatable lever member Ti, so as to extend transversely across the periphery of the wrapping wheel above the point occupied by a receiving pocket thereof at which a candy piece with its wrapper is entered in said pocket. Said lever member 'il' is pivoted to swing about the axis of rotation of the wrapping wheel, and its oscillations are produced and properly timed by a rotating cam wheel 78. Said lever member 'Il is provided with an angularly extending arm 19 having an anti-friction roller B which rides upon the periphery of said cam wheel 78, whereby to effect the operative movements of said lever member il and folding blade 'i6 carried thereby.

Immediately the candy piece with its wrapper is deposited in a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel, the folding blade it is timed to make an operative down stroke which carries it against the trailing front flap f so as to swing down said iiap, and thus fold it iiatly against and across the outer face of the candy piece (see Fig. 6).

Extending for a suitable distance along and contiguous to th-e periphery of the wrapping wheel, from a point adjacent that at which a pocket of the latter receives a candy piece with its wrapper, is a stationary combined folding and keeper plate 8l, the width of which substantially corresponds to the width of the wrapping wheel. As the candy piece is carried along by the rotation of the wrapping wheel beneath said folding and keeper plate 8|, the leading front flap f' will be moved against the forward end thereof so as to be turned over thereby atly across the outer face of the candy piece, and so as to lap the previously folded trailing front flap (see Fig. 6). It will be understood that, as movement of the candy piece and wrapper relative to said stationary folding and keeper plate 8l continues, said plate serves to retain said iiaps f and f in their described folded relation to the candy piece, while the ends e or the wrapper project beyond the lateral margins of said folding and keeper plate, so as to be engageable by means operative to form the necessary tucks and folds therein by which the ends of the candy piece are embraced and covered.

Bordering the folding and keeper plate 8|, in a selected advanced position beyond the point at which a pocket of the wrapping wheel receives a candy piece with its wrapper, is means for tucking and down folding the trailing sides of the laterally extending ends e of the wrapper. This means comprises revolving arms 82 respectively disposed adjacent each side of the wrapping wheel, so as to revolve in planes parallel to that of the wrapping wheel. Said arms 82, as viewed in Figs. l, 7 and 9, revolve in counter-clockwise direction, and thus oppositely to the rotation of the wrapping wheel, which is in clockwise direction as viewed in the same figures. Amxed to each revolving arm S2, at a side thereof which opposes the adjacent face of the wrapping wheel, is a tucker finger 83. Said tucker finger 33 lies in a plane substantially parallel to theV plane of the adjacent face of the wrapping wheel, and projects forwardly, i. e. in the direction of rotation of the arm 82. Also aiixed to each revolving arm 82 is a folder nger 84, which also projects forwardly, i. e. in the direction of rotation of the so timed relative tothe rotary progress of the wrapping wheel that the tucker ngers 83 are rapidly carried against the trailing sides of the projecting wrapper ends e, so as to first tuck inward the vertical faces thereof against the adjacent end of the candy piece (see Fig. '7). Following this, the continuing revolution of the arms 82 carries the folder fingers 31% over and downwardly against the horizontally extending. portions of the wrapper ends e at points adi acent to the trailing sides of the latter, thereby down folding these portions of the wrapper ends relative to the ends of the candy piece (see Fig. 9). These operations leave the leading sides of the wrapper ends e still in somewhat outwardlyr projecting extension (again see Fig. 9).

Beyond the above described revolving tucking and folding means, additional means is provided for completing the infolding and down-folding of the leading sides of the wrapper ends e. This latter means comprises suitably supported stationary folder plates 85 which lap the external side marginal portions of the wrapping wheel and Vthe forward end portion` of the folding and keeper plate 8| in s'itably spaced contiguous relation thereto. Each folder plate 85 is provided at its rearward end with a downwardly and forwardly inclined vertical plow portion 86, which preferably terminates at its upper or inner end in a rearwardly projecting undercut nosing 81; the latter being so disposed as to intersect and overhang the plane of the bottom of a receiving pocket 0f the wrapping wheel, when said pocket is advanced by rotation of the wrapping wheel past the rearward end of said folder plate 85. l

After the candy piece and associated wrapper, as advanced by the wrapping wheel, leaves the revolving tucking and folding means, the leading sides of the wrapper ends e are carri-ed into engagement with the folder plates 85 so as to pass beneath the nosings 81, and thence in passing engagement with the plow portions 8E and behind the bodies of said folder plates, all whereby said leading sides of the wrapper ends e are both inturned and down-turned to extend somewhat di- --agonally across and in parallel plane relative to the ends of the candy piece, and so as to lap the previously down-folded portions of the trailing sides of said wrapper ends e, thus leaving free end portions or tabs t of the folded wrapper m-aterial projecting beyond the ends of the candy piece and right angularly to the outer face plane thereof (see Fig. l0)

Provided in connection with the forward end portions of said folder plates 85, so as to extend therebetween in curved plane corresponding to the curvature of the wrapping wheel periphery, and disposed so as to be spaced contiguous to the latter, is a wrapper tab end folder plate 38. Said tab end folder plate 83, as thus bridging between the folder plates 85, may be formed, if desired, to be integral therewith. Said tap end folder plate 88 begins adjacent to the forward end of the folding and keeper plate 8l. The rearward portion of the tab end folder plate V88, which opposes 1G the adjacent end of the folding and keeper plate 8|, is shaped to provide an open substantially V- shaped mouth 89, the sides of which are formed to provide chamfered turn-over plow sections which converge upon the medial line or axis of the tab end folder plate body (see Fig. 12),.

After the down-folded tab ends t of the wrapper have been formed, advance of the thus partially wrapped candy piece by the wrapping wheel carri-es said tab ends respectively into passing engagement with the respective turn-over plow sections 98, by which the same are up-swung and in-turned to overlie the outer face of the candy piece and the enclosing lapped wrapper folds ,f and f', thereby completing the wrapper folding operations (see Fig. 11). The thus folded tab ends t are carried on beneath the body of the plate` 88, so as to be held thereby in their folded positions.

Means is provided for sealing down the folded tab ends t. Means for this purpose may be various in kind and location according to the particular character of wraorer material employed. In the illustrative embodiment of the machine of this invention as shown, the sealing means is of a kind and is so located as to operate upon heat sealable wrapping material, such e. g, as cellophane, which is the preferred kind of wrapping material. The sealing means therefore, as shown (see Fig. 1), is located adiacent to forward terminus of the tab end folder plate 89, and comprises an electrically heated sealing iron 9i which is adapted to be brought in contact with the folded tab ends t, so that` the heat applied to the letter will thereby cause said tab ends to adhere to the underlying Wrapper folds f and f. Preferably said sealing iron is pivoted on a support 92 so that, by suitable actuating means (not shown), it may be swung inward for momentary pressurecontact with the wrapped candy piece passing thereunder, and thereafter relaxed.

Extending along the periphery of the wrapping wheel, from said sealing means to a pointadjacent that at which wrapped candy pieces areV to be discharged from the pockets of said wrapping wheel, isa keeper plate 93.

Means is provi-ded for automatically discharging the wrapped candy pieces, as the pockets of the wrapping wheel containing the same arrive at a predetermined point in the orbit of the wheel periphery. Said means, inlone illustrative form thereof as shown, comprises an oscillatable ejector member 94 which is pivotally suspended from a stationary bracket 95, so that its free end portion extends downwardly between the wrapping wheel members 22, and normally behind a receiving pocket of the wrapping wheel where it passes the predetermined `discharge point in thefwrap- .ping wheel orbit. Extending outwardly, at said predetermined discharge point, from the wrapping wheel periphery is a channeled runway 9 6 into which the eiected wrapped candy piece-s are `successively discharged. Suitable means i-s provided for producing timed -oscillation of said ejector member 94, which, illustratively, Comprises. a reciprocable link 91 having at itsv rearward end a slotted head 98 slidably' supported on a guide block 99, whichis, in turn, immovably supported on a shaft I8@ lby which an actuating cam it! is rotated. The cam IOI bears against a thrust stud in the form of an anti-friction roller |62, which is mountedon vthe head 98 of the recipro-cable link. A compression spring |183 y mounted between the :outer end of the head98 and the guide block 9;9 Causes the `roller 1912.110

follow the cam itl, so that desired reciprocation of the link 97 by the latter is assured. It will be understood th-at any other suitable means may be provided whereby to cause the link 91 to follow the cam subject to the reciprocating effect thereof. The `outer end of the reciprocable link S1 is pivotally Aconnected with a pivoted rocker arm IM, to which is also pivotally connected one end of a connecting link |65. The opposite or `outer end of said connecting link |95 is pivotally connected with the ejector member Sli so as to impart its movement thereto, and thus effect timed oscillation of said ejector member. In operation, as a receiving pocket of the Wrapping wheel approaches the point at which it is desired to discharge a wrapped candy piece therefrom, said wrapped candy piece will be carried in front of the retracted ejector member 9d (see Fig. l), and as said discharge point is reached, the ejector member actuating mechanism is timed to cause a forward swing of said ejector member, whereby the latter engages and pushes the wrapped candy piece out of the wrapping wheel pocket land deposits it within the runway 9B (see Fig. 13), the ejector member being thereupon immediately retracted to normal initial position. These operations are repeated as each wra-pped candy piece containing pocket reaches the said discharge point in the wrapping Wheel orbit.

From the above description it will be apparent that the machine of this invention is of the continuous rotary type, wherein the wrapper folding manipulations are performed by agencies lying adjacent to the orbit of the peripheral portions of the wrapping wheel, and are operative without necessity for interrupting the rotary motion of the wrapping wheel. It will also be apparent that the means for introducing into the wrapping wheel pockets the articles to be wrapped together with wrapper material therefor is `so devised that it also functions in a positive and rapid manner likewise without necessity for interrupting-the rotary moton of the wrapping wheel. It will therefore be understood that a very compact and yet rapid and efficient wrapping machine is provided by this invention.

We are aware that many changes could be made in the described mechanisms and details of con-struction thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings without departing from the scope of this invention as defined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1,-In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable between an article delivery means and a rotated wrapping wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets in its periphery for the reception of transferred articles to be wrapped, said transfer means comprising a pivoted oscillator arm terminating in an impeller means, a relatively movable platform plate slidably mounted in connection with the impeller means to initially project the forward thrusting end thereof, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to propulsion thereby, and means operative to retract and advance said platform plate respectively during end phases of the forward and back movements of the impeller means.

2. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable between an article delivery means and a rotated wrapping wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets in its periphery for the reception of transferred articles to be Wrapped, said transfer mea-ns comprising a pivoted oscillator arm terminating in an impeller means, a relatively movable platform plate slidably mounted in connection with the impeller means to initially project beyond the forward thrusting end thereof, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to propulsion thereby, means operative to retract and advance said platform plate respectively during the phases of the forward and back movements of the impeller means, and yieldable means cooperative with the impeller means for holding a wrapper in engagement with an article when the latter is subject to the propulsive thrust of the impeller means.

3. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable between an article delivery means and a rotated wrapping wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets in its periphery for the reception of transferred articles to be wrapped, said transfer means comprising a pivoted oscillator arm terminating in an impeller means, a relatively movable platform plate slidably mounted in connection with the impeller means to initially project beyond the forward thrusting end thereof, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to propulsion thereby, means operative to retract and advance said platform plate respectively during end phases of the forward and back movements of the impeller means, and means carried lby said platform plate adapted to be controlled by the movements thereof, whereby to engage and hold an article on the platform plate when the latter is forwardly projected for article support and to release said article when said platform plate is retracted from article supporting position.

. 4. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable Ibetween an article delivery means and a rotated wrapping wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets in its periphery for the reception of transferred articles to be wrapped, said transfer means comprising a pivoted oscillator arm terminating in an impeller means, a relatively movable platform plate slidably mounted in connection with the impeller means to initially project beyond the forward thrusting end thereof, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to propulsion thereby, means operative to retract and advance said platform plate respectively during end phases of the forward and back movements of the impeller means, and means carried .by said platform plate adapted to be controlled by the movements thereof, whereby to engage and hold an article on the platform plate when the latter is forwardly projected for article support and to release said article when said platform plate is retracted from article supporting position, said latter means comprising gripper members pivotally mounted on the platform plate adjacent opposite sides of the impeller means, spring means to yieldably swing inward said gripper members into holding relation to the platform plate supported article, said gripper means having cam portions cooperative with said impeller means for outswinging the gripper members to release the article when the platform plate is Withdrawn from article supporting position.

5. In a Wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means as dened in claim 4 including yieldable means cooperative with the impeller 13 means for holding a wrapper in engagement with an article when the latter is subject to the propulsive thrust of the impeller means.

6. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable between an article delivery means and a rotated wrapping wheel having ciroumferentially spaced pockets in its periphery for the reception of transferred articles to be wrapped, said transfer means comprising a pivoted oscillator arm having a head portion at its free endv and an impeller member above said head portion, the forward end ofV said propeller member freely projecting beyond said head portion, a platform plate slidably supported by said head portion beneath said impeller member, the forward end portion of said platform plate` being adapted to be initially projected beyondk the forward thrustingend of the impeller member, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to the thrust of the impeller member, and means operative to retract and advance said platform plate relative to the thrusting end of the impeller member respectively Aduring end phases of theY forward and back movements of the oscillator arm.

7. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable between an article delivery means and ak rotated wrapping wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets in its peripheryfor thereception of transferred articles to be wrapped, said transfer means comprisinga pivoted oscillator arm having a head portion at its free end and an impeller member above said head portion, the forward end of said propeller member freely projecting'beyond said head portion, a platform plate slidably supported by said head portion beneath said impeller member, the forward end portion of said platform plate being adapted to be initially projected beyond the forward thrusting end of the impeller member, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to the thrust of the impeller member, means operative to retract and advance said platform plate relative to the thrusting end of the impeller member respectively during end phases of the forward and back movements of the oscillator arm, and means cooperative with the impeller member for holding a wrapper in engagement with an article when the latter is subject to the propulsive thru-st of said impeller member.

8. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable between an article delivery means and a rotated wrapping wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets in its periphery for the reception of transferred articles to be wrapped, said transfer means comprising a pivoted oscillator arm having a head portion at its free end and an impeller member above said head portion, the forward end of said propeller member freely projecting beyond said head portion, a platform plate slidably supported by said head portion beneath said impeller member, the forward end portion of said platform plate being adapted to be initially projected beyond the forward thrusting end of the impeller member, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to the thrust of the impeller member, means operative to retract and advance said platform plate relative to the thrusting end of the impeller member respectively during end phases of the forward and baci: movements of the oscillator arm, and means carried by said platform plate adapted to be controlled by the movements thereof, whereby to engage and hold "i4 an article on the platformplatewhen the-latterfisV forwardlyl projected for artiolesupport and' to release said article when said platform platezis retracted from article supporting position.

9. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable-arfticle transfer means movablefbetween anarticle delivery means and a rotated wrapping' wheel having circumferentiallyA spaced pockets.- ink its periphery for the-reception of transferred articles to be wrapped, said'transfer'means comprising a pivoted oscillator arm havingV ahead portion at its free end and an'impellermember above said head portion, the forward end offsaid propeller member freely projecting beyond said head portion, a platform slidably supported by said headv portion beneath'-saidzimpellergmember. the` forward' end portion` of said platform plate being adapted to be initiallyprojectedbeyond the forward thrusting end of `therimpellerrmennber, Wherebyto support an article to bev trans ferred subject to thel thrust of the'impellermemr ber,V meansoperative toretract and advancefsaid platform plate relative tothe thrusting end .of the impeller memberA respectively duringa end phases of the forward and back movements' of the oscillator arm, meanscarriedby saidplatform plate adapted to be-controlledlby'the moyements thereof, whereby to.` engagetY and hold an article on the platform` plate whenzthe. latter is forwardly projected for article supportzandtto release saidv article whenF said platform plate-"is retracted from article supporting position,. said latter means comprising gripper `members pivotally mounted on. said, platform. plate' adjacent opposite sides of the impeller member, spring means to yieldably swing inward said gripper members into holding relationv to a platform plate supported article, and said gripper members having cam portions cooperative with sides of the head portion of the oscillator arm for outswinging the gripper members to release said article when the platform plate is retracted from article supporting position.

l0. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means as defined in claim 9 including yieldable means cooperative with the impeller member for holding a wrapper in engagement with an article when the latter is subject to propulsive thrust of said impeller member.

l1. In a wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable between an article delivery means and a rotated wrapping wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets in its periphery for the reception of transferred articles to be wrapped, said transfer means comprising a pivoted oscillator arm having a head portion at its free end and an impeller member above said head portion, the forward end of said propeller member freely projecting beyond said head portion, a platform plate slidably supported by said head portion beneath the impeller member, the forward end portion of said platform plate being adapted to be initially projected beyond the forward thrusting end of the impeller member, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to the thrust of the impeller member, the rear end of said platform plate being engageable by the article delivery means during the end phase of back swinging movement of the oscillator arm whereby to advance the platform plate to initially projected relation to the thrusting end of the propeller member, said platform plate having a laterally projecting stop ear, and a stationary stop finger lying in the forward path of movement of said stop ear, whereby to engage the latter during the end phase of forward swinging movement of the oscillator arm and thus to retract the platform plate from initially projected article supporting relation to the thrusting end of the propeller member.

12. In a 'rapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means as dened in claim 11 including yieldable means cooperative with the impeller member for holding a wrapper in engagement with an article when the latter is subject to propulsive thrust of said impeller member.

13. In a Wrapping machine, an oscillatable article transfer means movable between an article delivery means and a rotated wrapping Wheel having circumferentially spaced pockets in its periphery for the reception of transferred articles to be Wrapped, said transfer means comprisin'g a pivoted oscillator arm having a head portion at its free end and an impeller member above said head portion, the forward end of said propeller member freely projecting beyond said head portion, a platform plate slidably supported by said head portion beneath the impeller member, the forward end portion of said platform plate being adapted to be initially projected beyond the forward thrusting end o1 the impeller member, whereby to support an article to be transferred subject to the thrust of the impeller member, the rear end of said platform plate being engageable by the article delivery means during the end phase of back swinging movement of the oscillator arm whereby to advance the platform plate to initially projected relation to the thrusting end of the propeller member, said platform plate having a laterally projecting stop ear, a stationary stop linger lying in the forward path of movement of said stop 16 ear, whereby to engage the latter during the end phase of forward swinging movement of the oscillator arm and thus to retract the platform plate from initially projected article supporting relation to the thrusting end of the propeller member, gripper members pivotally mounted on said platform plate adjacent opposite sides of the iznpeller member, spring means to yieldably swing inward said gripper members into holding rela-tion to a platform plate supported article, and said gripper members having cam portions cooperative with sides of the head portion of the oscillator arm for outswinging the gripper members to release said article when the platform plate is retracted from article supporting position.

la. In a wrapping machine, an oscilla-table article transfer means as denned in claim 13 including yieldabie means cooperative with the impeller member for holding a wrapper in engagement with an article when the latter is subject to propulsive thrust of said propeller member.

GEORGE I. HOHL.

FREDERICK H. WEISE.

GOTTLIEB A. RIST.

JOI-1N M. BIST.

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

UNETED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,955,493 Grover Apr. 17, 1934 1,984,850 Van Buren Dec. 18, 1934 2,180,163 Milmoe et al. Nov. 14, 1939