US2718107A - Fruit wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept- 0, 1955 T. M. VAUGHAN 2,718,107

FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1950 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 THOMAS M. VAUGHAN M1544 wz y Sept. 20, 1955 T. M. VAUGHAN FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1950 INVENTOR THOMAS M. VAUGHAN Sept.'20, 1955 T. M. VAUGHAN ,FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 11, 1950 INVENTOR THOMAS. M.VAUGHAN M Sept. 20, 1955 T. M. VAUGHAN 2,713,107

FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR THOMAS M. VAUGHAN Sept. 20, 1955 T. M. VAUGHAN FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 11, 1950 INVENTOR THOMAS M. VAUGHAN A M9 54% Sept. 20, 1955 T. M. VAUGHAN FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE INVENTOR THOMAS M.VAUGHAN 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 nu/47% W Filed April 11, 1950 Sept. 20, 1955 T. M. VAUGHAN FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 11, 1950 M v w. M M

M Q T Sept. 20, 1955 T. M. VAUGHAN 2,718,107

FRUIT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 94 90 8% 116% 8.9 Xa' 6L N Em JIIIHIL '1 United States Patent Paper Company, Tampa, Fla., a corporation of Delaware Application April 11, 1950, Serial No. 155,213 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-128) This invention relates to a machine for wrapping fruits, vegetables and other such articles. More particularly, it relates to a machine for applying paper wrappers to citrus fruit, such as oranges or grapefruit.

In the machine of this invention, improvements have been provided in the wrapping mechanism and in the wrapper feeding mechanism and other particulars. Moreover, this invention enables a single machine to be constructed having a plurality of wrapping units therein. Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear by reference to United States patent application Serial No. 101,059 filed June 24, 1949, now Patent No. 2,662,354 and from the following description and accompanying drawings, which are illustrative only, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the right side of a preferred form of the machine of this invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the left side of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view taken substantially along line V-V of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the wrapper bunching mechanism of the machine shown in Figure ,5 with the table removed and the clamping members separated;

Figure 7 is a plan view of part of the wrapper bunching mechanism of the machine shown in Figure 6 with the clamping members together;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the wrapper gathering and bunching mechanism shown in Figure 6 with the upper clamping members removed;

Figure 9 is a detailed view in cross section taken along line IX-IX of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a detailed view in cross section taken along line XX of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a view in cross'section showing a portion of the wrapper twisting mechanism taken along line Xl-XI of Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the twisting drum driving andbraking mechanism; and i 1 Figure 13 is a plan view of a portion of a table containing a wiping opening with wiping blades in position therein.

The fruit feeding and ejecting mechanism Referring to the drawings, a frame is provided for the tween the frame members on each side of the machine. Each of the wrapping units performs its wrapping function in the same way and at the same time as the Wrapping function performed by each of the other of the units in the machine. Hence, in the following description, whenever possible, the description of the structure of a single unit and of the operation thereof will also apply to the construction and operation to such extent of the other unlts.

When vegetables or pieces of fruit usually of relatively regular shape are fed down inclined chute 16 in spaced relation, they successively fall into a cup formed by the inwardly inclined circumferentially spaced flexible fingers 17 around the open bottom of the enclosed end 18 of chute 16. A vertically positioned reciprocating ram 19 is suspended above and coaxially with the cup formed by fingers 17. Ram 19 is journaled in brackets 20 secured to respective bracing members 15 extending between frame members 12. A link 21 is pivotally secured at its one end to ram 19 and its other end to the extended forward end of an eccentric follower 22. Eccentric follower 22 is swingably mounted on a fixed pivot shaft 23 journaled in a bracket 24 fastened to the frame of the machine. A cross shaft 25 is also supported in bracket 24 across the width of the machine and has mounted thereon, for each unit, an eccentric 26. The rotation of eccentric 26 as shaft 25 turns reciprocates ram 19. The rotation of shaft 25 is effected by a sprocket chain 27 operating a sprocket gear 28 keyed to shaft 25 at its left-hand end. Any suitable construction may be provided either substantially as shown in the aforesaid application Serial No. 101,059 or otherwise, for fruit feeding and spacing means in chute 16.

The wrapper positioning and feeding mechanism A supply of wrappers usually of rectangular paper tissue placed flatwise one on top of another is placed on a platform 29 afiixed to the top of a non-rotating vertical rack 30. Vertical guide sheets 31 extending rearwardly with a flat sheet 32 extending across the rear of the machine form guide channels for such wrappers in the course of the intermittent positioning thereof by the successive increments of elevation of rack 30. In operation, a needle pointed spike 33 is mounted vin a bracket 34 and pressed downwardly by a spring 35 so that it pierces the topmost few wrappers held against the point of spike 33 by platform 29. Bracket 34 is mounted on a frame extension 36 fastened to the frame members of the machine, which frame extension also supports the sheet guides 31. On the right-hand side of the machine, a tilting lever 37 is pivotally mounted midway of its ends. A roller 38 rests against the topmost wrapper for the unit on that side of the machine. As the level of the wrappers descends it increasingly and correspondingly elevates the other end of lever 37 thus raising rod 39 connected to 'such other end.

As rod 39 is raised, it tips a bell crank lever 40 pivotally mounted on a bracket 41 away from a block 42 until block 42 is free of the detent effect of lever 40. Block 42 is fixed to the inside of a rocking plate 43 pivotally mounted on a shaft 44 nearer the end thereof carrying block 42. The other forward end of plate 43 is pivotally connected to a rod 45, the upper end 46 of which is slotted and fits around a pin 47. Pin 47 is eccentrically mounted on a rotating plate 48 keyed to the right-hand end of shaft 25. An enlarged head on pin 47 prevents any disengagement of end 46 therefrom. When block 42 is freed by the fall in the wrapper level, rod 45 .is correspondingly dropped until pin 47 bears against the top of the slot in end 46 thereof. In this situation, rod 45 will be reciprocated by the rotation of plate 48 instead of idling without any material reciprocation as is the case when lever 40 acts as a detent when it overlies block 42.

When plate 43 rocks, it rotates freely on shaft 44. However, a spring loaded pawl 49 on plate 43 engages a ratchet wheel 50 keyed to shaft 44 to turn wheel 50 each time rod 45 is lifted. A spring-loaded detent 51 mounted on fixed horizontal bracket 52 journaling the right-hand end of shaft 44 prevents any counter rotation of wheel 50 when rod 45 moves downwardly but does allow pawl 49 to ratchet and make a new engagement around the circumference of wheel 56. A pinion 53 keyed to shaft 44 is in meshing engagement with rack 30. Hence each partial turn of shaft 44 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, moves rack 30 upwardly until such time as the elevation of roller 38 causes detent 40 to re engage block 42 and cause rod 45 to idle. A handle 54 is also keyed to shaft 44 and may be used to turn ratchet wheel 50 in a clockwise direction by holding pawl 49 and detent 51 out of engagement position with wheel 50. Such clockwise rotation of wheel 50 lowers rack 30 in each unit so that a new supply of wrappers may be inserted be-' fore turning handle 54 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 to reengage the topmost wrappers with the needle point of spike 33.

In the wrapper feeding mechanism, a rearwardly ex tending arm 55 is atfixed to frame member 12 on each side of the machine. A leather strap 56 is fastened by counter= sunk rivets or adhesive to the upper flat surface of each arm 55. A block 57 having its underside wedge or chevron-shaped is .shod with leather pieces 58 and 59 re= spectively on the faces of the chevron configuration to alternately slide over surface 56. The leather pieces 58 and 59 are also fastened to block 57 by countersunk rivets which do not protrude, or, by adhesive. A side plate 60 is fastened to the outside of each block 57 and extends down alongside the outside of each arm 55 to serve as an aligning guide in the forward and rearward reciprocation of block 57 by means of a link 61 connected at its forward end to a crank 62 keyed to a shaft 63.

A bar 64 rigidly connects the blocks 57 and has pivot journals 65 at each end thereof extending outwardly beyond the outside of side plate 60 for pivotal engagement with the rearward end of the respective links 61. A depending U-shaped bracket 66 is fastened to the underside of bar 64 across the length thereof in median position relative to each of the wrapping units in the machine. A flexible leaf spring member 67 is bolted to the bottom of bracket 66 and extends in a forwardly direction. A gripping block 68 of frictional material, such as sponge rubber, is affixed to the underside of the foremost end of each member 67. Hence, as crank 62 revolves in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, it will push block 57 to its rearmost position with surface 58 riding on surface 56 especially since pivot 65 is preferably offset slightly toward the rear of block 57 with member 67 and gripping block 68 raised out of contact with any of the wrappers held by spike 33.

However, as crank 62 swings through its extended dead center, block 57 is tipped because of the frictional engagement between the respective leather surfaces and commences its stroke forward with surface 59 in contact with surface 56. This rocking forward of block 57 throws gripping block 68 downwardly into engagement with the topmost wrapper held by spike 33 and during the continued rotation of crank 62 tears such topmost wrapper in each unit away from the respective spikes 33 and pushes them forward until engaged between sector rolls 69 and the respectively cooperating idling rolls 70. One pair of sector rolls 69 and one pair of cooperating idling rolls 70 is provided for each unit, the sector rolls being keyed in appropriate angular position around and to shaft 63. The idling rolls 7% are journalled in brackets on the underside of a table 71 and their peripheries extend upwardly through apertures 72- in said table.

As the respective rolls 69 and 70 engage the forward edge of the topmost wrapper, the synchronized positioning of the crank 62 lifts gripping member 68 so that the central positioning of each wrapper beneath its ram 19 on table 71 may be completed by the rolls 69 and 70. If desired, a' pair of floating fingers 73 may be provided along each side of the path of travel of each wrapper, said fingers being idly suspended from shaft 63 and resting on table 71 at their forward ends to prevent any billowing or accidental dislo'dgment of the Wrappers during the wrapper feeding operation.

The wrapping mechanism Table 71 is mounted on posts 74 in spaced relation above the frame members 13 and beneath the respective cups formed by the fingers 17. For each unit there is provided a circular aperture 75 coincident with the axis of the respective ram 19. This aperture is made into a wrapping orifice by the presence of sector-like wiping blades 76 preferably comprising leather layers covering a radially extending resilient stiffening member such as are shown in the aforesaid application Serial No. 101,059. The blades 76 are fastened as by an annular ring around the periphery of aperture 75 and extend toward the center thereof in overlapping relation to one another. Since they are relatively stiff yet flexible, upon the push of an object to be wrapped through them in a downwardly vertical direction, the blades 76 Wipe the wrapper positioned between aperture 75 and the said object closely around the surface of the object. When the object is wholly through the wiping blades 76, they spring back into initial wiping position for the next wrapping operation. The descent of ram 19 is not only synchronized with the object feeding and spacing means but also with the operation of the wrapper feeding rolls 69 and 70 so that the object being forced downwardly by ram 19 engages the wrapper precisely at the time it reaches its aligned position overlying aperture 75.

The feeding stroke of ram 19 forces the object being fed with the wrapper wiped therearound into the grip of inwardly bowed springs 77 in upright position around the periphery of a twisting drum 78. The springs 77 are secured at one end to drum 78. At the other end the springs 77 are formed in channel shape which in the embodirnent shown in Figure 11 rests against the lower edge of drum 78 when no fruit is being gripped by the springs 77 but which can move away from such lower edge when fruit or vegetables pass through the drum. Twisting drum 78 has an annular flange 79 supported on depending rollers 80 suspended from the underside of a horizontal plate 81 generally covering the rectangle defined by horizontal frame members 13 and the 'top'. of vertical frame members 11. An aperture 82 in plate 81 immediately above each drum 78 allows the object to be wrapped free passage through plate 81 into drum 78.

The wrapper gathering and 'bunching mechanism for the upstanding unclosed and untwisted ends and edges of the respective Wrappers wiped around the objects reposing in the respective drums 78, is substantially arranged between table 71 and plate 81. On each side of each aperture 82 a bearing slide 83, running fore and aft of the machine, is fastened to plate 81. A pair of clamping strips 84 and 85 extends across the entire width of the machine and rest on slides 83 to form the fore and aft clamping jaws for each of the wrapping units in the machine. Horizontal racks 86 are rigidly fastened to the top of strip 85 intermediate the respective rams 19 on each side of the central ram and projects forwardly. A further horizontal rack 87 is rigidly athxed to the top side of strip 84 and projects rearwardly with the teeth of each thereof in opposed relation to the teeth of the respective rack 86. Thus, there is a rack 86 and a rack '87 on each side of central ram 19. The teeth of these respective pairs mesh with a respective pinion 88 pivotally mounted on a post 89 a-fiixe'd to plate 81. Because of the to a link 90, the other end of which link 90 is connected to a bell crank 91. The bell cranks 91 are respectively pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging on a pivot post 92 supported by a bracket 93 affixed to the front frame member 13. The other end of each bell crank 91 isrigidly connected by a paralleling rod 94 which keeps the respective movement of the links 90 in synchronism. A spring 95 respectively connected to bracket 93 on the left of the machine and to the rearwardly projecting arm of the crank 91 on the right of the machine tends at all times to resiliently bring the clamping strips 84 and 85 into resilient closure or loosely clamping position.

When objects with wrappers wiped therearound repose between springs 77 in the respective drums 78, the ends and edges of the wrappers project upwardly through the respective apertures 82 between the clamping strips 84 and 85. These strips 84 and '85 are positively opened through the provision of a connecting rod 95a pivoted at its outer end to a crank plate 96. The inner end of rod 95a slides through a clevis 97, which clevis 97 is pivotally mounted on the inner arm of the left bell crank 91. A set collar 98 suitably fastened at the appropriate place along the length of rod 95a periodically engages clevis 97 during the rotation of crank plate 96. When in the position generally shown in Figure 6, the strips 84 and 85 are opened against the pull of spring 95 to permit the objects to be pushed downwardly into the respective drum 78 While the wrappers are being wiped therearound. The maximum opening of the strips 84 and 85 is marked by the innermost edges of the respective stop plates 99 fastened to plate 81. Upon the passing of crank plate 96 through extended dead center, spring 95 begins to resiliently move strips 84 and 85 toward each other to effect the fore and aft gathering or bunching of the respective wrappers.

The side-to-side or lateral bunching and clamping of the wiping wrappers is effected through the use of a pair of strips 100 in cooperation with a pair of strips 101. These respective pairs of strips are parallel and adapted to slide longitudinally of one another while retaining such parallelism, whereas the strips 84 and 85 retain their parallelism while moving laterally toward and away from one another. Strips 101 are outwardly of and in the same plane as the strips 100. The pair of strips 101 are connected by a fixed yoke 102 recessed at 103 to avoid any overlying of the central apertures 75 and 82 during the operation of the machine. The pair of strips 100 is rigidly connected together by a yoke plate 104 and a yoking bar 105.

Guide brackets 106 are provided at spaced intervals across the width of the machine to assist in maintaining the alignment of the respective pairs of strips 100 and 101 during the operation thereof. Each bracket comprises a stud bolt 107 fastened to plate 81 on each side of the assembly. A washer 108 maintains a bar 109 closely above and in general sliding arrangement with the top surfaces of strips 84 and 85. Bar 109 extends entirely across strips 84 and 85 from the front to the back thereof and the top side of bar 109 slidably supports the undersides of the respective pairs of strips 100 and 101 in contact therewith. A roller 110 is provided on each bolt 107 in rolling contact with the outside of the pair of strips 101 in contact therewith and astrip 111 completes the bracket extending across the entire top of the said pairs of strips 100 and 101. In this way close and appropriate guidance of the relative translatory movements of the respective strips 100 and 101 is obtained with the prevention of vertical movement of the strips 84 and 85, while at the 6 same time allowing the necessary sliding of all of the said clamping members.

A horizontal rack 112 is fastened to the foremost of the strips and a horizontal rack 113 is fastened to the rearmost of the strips 101. These racks have their teeth in meshed engagement with a pinion 114 and on opposite sides thereof. Pinion 114 is pivotally mounted on the pivot post 89 on the left-hand side of the machine which pivot post is correspondingly higher than the pivot post 89 on the right-hand side of the machine. The pinions 88 and pinion 114 rotate freely with respect to the respective posts 89. A bolt head or nut 115 on each of the posts 89 prevents any disassembly thereof and a spacing washer 116a is provided between pinion 114 and the pinion 88 therebelow to maintain pinion 114 at the appropriate height.

A bracket 116 extends rearwardly of and is rigidly connected to rack 113. A clevis 117 depends from the rearmost underside of bracket 116 and is pivotally mounted thereon. A connecting rod 118 slidably passes through the sides of the clevis 117 and is provided with a set collar 119 fixed to rod 118 in the appropriate place between clevis 117 and the free end of rod 118. Another set collar 120 is positioned at the appropriate place along rod 118 on the other side of clevis 117 from set collar '119. Set collar 120 is spaced from clevis 117 a distance sufficient to accommodate a helical rod spring 121 surrounding rod 118 between collar 120 and clevis 117.

Hence, by moving set collar 120 along the length of rod 118 the force of spring 121 can be correspondingly adjusted.

The outer end of rod 118 is threadably engaged in an in- ,verted U-shaped clevis 122, which clevis is pivotally mounted on a crank lever 123. Crank lever 123 is slotted at an intermediate position 124 for engagement with a crank pin 125 rigidly connected to a rotating plate 126. The other end of lever 123 is pivotally mounted at '127 in fixed position on a bracket 128 fastened to plate 81.

On the underside of the strips 100 angle brackets 129 are respectively fastened to the right of the respective apertures 82. A clamping jaw 130 which may be in the form of a rectangular bar of wood is engaged adjacent ,the two ends thereof away from the side of said bar adjacent the respective aperture 82 by wood bolts 131. These bolts pass through a corresponding opening in the depending leg of bracket 129 and in slidable relation there- .to with the head of the bolt positively connecting each bar 130 with its respective pair of brackets 129. A helical spring 132 surrounds the body of the bolts 131 between bar 130 and the respective bracket 129 so that bar 130 of rectangular wooden bars are provided on the left-hand side of the respective apertures 82 in opposed relation to clamping jaws 130. Bars 133 are engaged by bolts 134 which pass through an opening in the depending flange of angle brackets 135. A helical spring 136 around the body of each bolt allows the bars 133 to resiliently move in slidable relation to their respective retaining brackets 135. In operation, the movement of the respective links 90 is generally sufficient to bring clamping strips 84 and 85 into a closure relation which leaves a space between the adjacent edges of the respective strips so that the upf'standing edges of the wiped wrappers around the objects held in the respective drum 78 are bunched or gathered but not rigidly clamped. On the other hand, the throw of rod 118 is so set that when it moves inwardly toward ,the center of the machine the respective pairs of clamping jaws 130 and 133 positioned across each of the apertures 82 will resiliently meet under the pressure of spring 121 and with the resilient further adjustment permitted by the respective springs 132 and 136. The timing sequence is usually selected so that the clamping jaws 130 and 133 complete their closure immediately subsequent to the gathering movement of strips 84 and 85 toward each other. With all of the respective clamping members in closure relation, the edges and ends of the wiped wrap pers are gathered together into a spire shape of relatively small compass and resiliently held so that upon rotation of the respective twisting drums 78 the bunched and gathered wrapper ends and edges are twisted completing the actual wrapping operation.

Thereupon, rod 118 is moved outwardly through the medium of plate 126 causing set collar 119 to open the respective pairs of clamping jaws 130 and 133 and substantially at the same time flange plate 96 moved set collar 98 toward clevis 97 to move the clamping strips 84 and 85 to their opened position. In the embodiment shown, the one pair of clamping members 8485 is angularly disposed about 90 relative to the other pair of clamping members 130133.

Meanwhile, a new wrapper has been positioned over each of the apertures 75 beneath a succeeding object in the end of chute 16 beneath ram 19. Thus, when the clamping strips and jaws are so opened, ram 19 descends and in the course of the Wiping of the wrapper on the succeeding object to be wrapped and the lodging of the succeeding object between the springs 77 and each of the twisting drums 78, the completely wrapped objects are pushed downwardly out of the drums 78 where they fall into the chutes 137 and pass into appropriate containers.

The driving mechanism In the driving mechanism a prime mover 138, such as an electric motor, drives a transmission assembly 139 in the form of a gear reducer which in turn drives a sprocket 140 through a chain 140a. Sprocket 140 rotates freely on a shaft 141 unless and until connected to shaft 141 in drive connection by a clutch 142, which clutch per se forms no part of this invention and which may be electrically or mechanically controlled as desired. A sprocket gear 143 is keyed to the right-hand end of shaft 141 outside the respective frame member 12 and thereby drives a sprocket gear 144 through a sprocket chain 145. Sprocket gear 144 is keyed to shaft 63. A sprocket gear 146 at the lefthand end of shaft 63 in turn drives the sprocket gear 28 through the sprocket chain 27 to turn shaft 25 in synchronized adjustment with the movement of the other parts of the machine.

The left-hand end of shaft 141 is provided with a sprocket gear 147 and drives a eountershaft 148 through a chain 149 and a sprocket gear 150 keyed to shaft 148. Shaft 148 is mounted in a bracket 149a affixed to the adjacent frame member 12 and-carries keyed thereto a beveled gear 150a. A further shaft 151 is mounted in brackets 152 on a plate 153 fastened to the left-hand side of the machine. Shaft 151 has keyed thereto a bevel gear 154 which meshes with bevel gear 150a thereby turning shaft 151 when clutch 142 is engaged. A bevel gear 155 which is also keyed to shaft 151 meshes with and turns a cooperating bevel gear 156 keyed to a vertical shaft 157 mounted on plate 153. Crank plate 126 is keyed to the upper end of shaft 157 for the purposes heretofore described. In addition, a cam 158 is keyed to shaft 157 intermediate the ends thereof and actuates the twisting drum 78 through an aperture 159 in plate 153, at the appropriate times.

A bevel gear 160 at the forward end of shaft 151 cugages a bevel gear 161 at the lower end of a shaft 162. Shaft 162 is also mounted in a vertical position on plate 153. The crank plate 96 is keyed to the upper end of shaft 162 and receives its actuation therethrough.

Each of the twisting drums is provided with an integral circumferential driving pulley 163. in addition, a series of grooved keeper pulleys 164 depend from the underside of plate 81 and are supported thereby so as to provide a taut endless flexible pulley belt 165 in driving relation (fit .to each of the three drums 78. A further circumferential grooved pulley 166 is provided on drum 78 on the lefthand side of the machine for respectively alternate engagement with a driving wheel 167 directly connected to an electric motor 168. Driving engagement between wheel 1.67 and pulley 166 turns the remaining two drums 78 in synchronism therewith through belt 165. Prime mover 168 is bolted to a vertical plate 169 hinged at 170 to the inside of plate 153. A cam block 171 is also fastened to the outer side of hinge plate 169 for engagement by earn 158. A spring 172 is connected between plate 169 and an outstanding bracket 173 bolted to plate 153. Spring 172 holds driving wheel 167 out of engagement with pulley 166 except when cam 158 forces wheel 167 into such driving engagement with pulley 166. As driving wheel 167 is moved out of such engagement under the inliuence of spring 172, a brake block 174 at the end of an arm 1'75 fastened .to the inside of plate 169 moves into engagement with the groove in pulley 166 to give sharp definition to the cessation of a wrapping cycle and prevent any overrun. This arrangement of a driving wheel and brake block on a hinged plate is substantially as set forth in the aforesaid application Serial No. 101,059. Further, any suitable electrical circuit may be employed for shutting off the power to the electric motors whenever the machine is to be stopped. Moreover, in this connection it is quite common to provide such cut-offs in the electrical circuit whenever there is no fruit being fed to the respective chutes 16,

It is evident that various modifications may be made in respect of the novel disclosures herein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, means for wiping and holding a wrapper around said pieces with the ends and edges .of said wrapper upstanding, pairs of opposed elongated clamping members substantially surrounding said upstanding ends and edges, said pairs being at an angle to each other, one of said pairs being respectively connected to parallel strips, rack and pinion means for moving said strips in longitudinal translation and respectively opposite directions to operate the clamping members connected thereto, rack and pinion means for moving the other pair of clamping members in lateral translation and respectively opposite directions, the respective movement of said respective pairs of clamping members when toward each other acting to bunch and gather said upstanding ends and edges substantially .into a spire shape, and means for twisting said spire to complete the wrapping operation.

2. Ina machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, means -for wiping and holding a wrapper around said pieces with the ends and edges of said wrapper upstanding, pairs of opposed clamping members substantially surrounding said upstanding ends and edges, said pairs of opposed clamping members being angularly disposed relative to oneanother by about means for resiliently moving the respective clamping members in each of said opposed pairs toward each other, one of said pairs of opposed clamping members being connected respectively to parallel strips, means for moving said strips in longitudinal translation andopposite directions to operate the -pair of clamping members connected thereto, means for stantially surrounding said upstanding ends and edges, said pairsof opposed clamping members being angularly disposed relative to one another by about 90 means for resiliently moving the respective clamping members in each of said opposed pairs toward each other, one of said pairs of opposed clamping members being respectively connected to parallel strips, means for moving said strips in longitudinal translation and opposite directions to operate the pair of clamping members connected thereto, means for moving the other pair of clamping members in lateral translation to operate said last-mentioned pair, said strips and last-mentioned pair of clamping members being in superposed relation, said upstanding ends and edges being bunched and gathered substantially into spire shape, and means for twisting said spire to complete the wrapping operation.

4. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, a normally resiliently closed pair of clamping strips adapted to move laterally toward each other while maintaining parallelism to bunch the ends and edges of a wrapper projecting between said first-named clamping strips, a pair of normally open strip members, clamping bars connected to said strip members and disposed substantially at right angles to said first-named clamping strips, and cooperating with said clamping strips to surround said ends and edges of said wrappers, means for resiliently closing said clamping bars by movement thereof toward each other while substantially maintaining parallelism of said strip members to bunch and gather said upstanding ends and edges, and separate crank members for respectively effecting the opening of said first-named clamping strips and the closing of said clamping bars.

5. In a machine for Wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, a normally resiliently closed pair of clamping strips adapted to move laterally toward each other while maintaining parallelism to bunch the ends and edges of a Wrapper projecting between said clamping strips, a pair of normally open opposed clamping bars disposed substantially at right angles to said clamping strips, and cooperating with said clamping strips to surround said ends and edges of said wrappers, means other than said clamping strips for resiliently closing said clamping bars by movement thereof toward each other while substantially maintaining parallelism to bunch and gather said upstanding ends and edges, said clamping bars being resiliently aflixed to strip members other than said clamping strips, said strip members being substantially parallel to said clamping strips, means for closing said clamping bars by moving said respective strip members parallel to one another and in respective opposite directions and rack and pinion means for closing said clamping strips by lateral translation thereof in respectively opposite directions.

6. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, means for wiping and holding a wrapper around said pieces with the ends and edges of said wrapper upstanding, pairs of opposed clamping members substantially surrounding said upstanding ends and edges, said pairs of opposed clamping members being positioned one above the other, one of said pairs of clamping members further being attached respectively to strip members parallel to the other pair of said clamping members, crank means for movingvsaid other pair of said clamping members laterally toward each other in a direction generally normal to the length thereof, said other pair of said clamping members being parallel to said strip members, and crank means for moving said respective strip members in a direction coincident with the length thereof and oppositely to close the remaining pair of said clamping members, whereby said upstanding ends and edges of said wrapper are bunched and gathered substantially into a spire shape, and a plurality of wrapping units may be incorporated in a single machine substantially by a corresponding change in the length of said other pair of said clamping members and said strip members.

7. In a machne for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, tiltable means for feeding a wrapper into position beneath said pieces, means for wiping and holding a wrapper around said pieces with the ends and edges of said wrapper upstanding, pairs of opposed clamping members substantially surrounding said upstanding ends and edges, spaced relatively adjustable respective means for moving the respective clamping members in each of said opposed pairs toward each other, at least one pair of said clamping members being respectively connected to parallel strips, means for moving said parallel strips in longitudinal translation and respectively opposite directions to operate the clamping members connected thereto, means connected to the other pair of clamping members to move them in lateral translation and in opposite directions to operate said last-mentioned clamping members, said operation of all of said clamping members in a closing direction acting to bunch and gather said upstanding ends and edges substantially into a spire shape, and means for twisting said spire to complete the wrapping operation.

8. In a machine for wrapping pieces of fruit or the like, means for wiping and holding a wrapper around said pieces with the ends and edges of said wrapper upstanding, pairs of opposed clamping members substantially surrounding said upstanding ends and edges, said pairs being at an angle to each other, each clampng member in one of said pairs being connected respectively to a parallel strip, means for moving said strips in longitudinal translation relation to move the clamping members in the pair connected thereto relative to one another, means for moving the other pair of clamping members relative to one another in lateral translation, whereby said upstanding ends and edges are bunched and gathered substantially in spire shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 407,544 McDonald July 23, 1889 639,375 Wilson Dec. 19, 1899 1,703,641 Sowden Feb. 26, 1929 1,964,498 Brasseur June 26, 1934 2,125,167 Lee July 26, 1938 2,248,290 Vaughan July 8, 1941

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