US2757499A - Individual article wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug 7 1956 A. w. ALBRx-:CHT

mnrvrnum. AR'ucLE WRAPPING MACHINE 2 sheds-sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1953.

Aug. 7, 1956 A. w. ALBRECHT 2,757,499

INDIVIDUAL ARTICLE WRAPPING MACHINE` Filed March 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O INDIVIDUAL ARTICLE WRAPPING MACHINE Arthur W. Albrecht, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Pearson Candy Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application March 13, 1953, Serial No. 342,135

A Claims. (Cl. 53--226) This invention relates to automatic article-wrapping machines and particularly to a machine which will rapidly and individually wrap individual articles or article units delivered successively thereto.

In many industries including food manufacture, confectionery, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and others, articles or a unit of several articles are completed or produced on a line and are thereafter conveyed successively and singly in spaced relation to a station for wrapping and/or packaging. ln many instances, it is desirable to individually wrap and seal the articles or the manufactured units thereof. A` number of very expensive and complicated machines have been heretofore produced for enveloping intermittently and successively articles or units individually in a sealed envelope formed between two plies of lilm. ln such cases, the articles or units have usually been successively dropped upon a continuous or progressively moving supporting strip of material and thereafter a strip from above has been synchronously moved with the rst strip over the article and opposing portions of the strips sealed together about the article to form the envelope. The complexity, expense and space required for such automatic machinery has been objected to from many standpoints.

It is an object of my invention to provide a comparatively simple, compact and highly eicient automatic machine for individually and successively wrapping article units in successively or progressively fed fragments severed from a single continuous strip of exible and, at least to some extent, form-retaining sheet material whereby the entire article or unit is closely wrapped and enclosed at top, bottom and peripheral portions within the wrapper automatically applied.

A further object is the provision of a compact, high capacity machine for successively receiving article units, thereafter pushing the individual articles inwardly through a stuing tunnel to shape a planar sheet fragment into lthe form of a bag surrounding the entering end and peripheral portion of the article and leaving la skirt therebeyond and to thereafter twi'stand crimp'v .the skirt portion of the b ag so 'formed about the opposite` end' of thearticle to complete the wrapping and vsubstantially seal each,article or unit in a tightly wrapped containeng A more specific object-is the provision 'offanautomatic power driven machinejof theltypefspccie'dfadapted to be associated with conventional article-conveyor' lines" and including a'receiving chamber'for conseutivelyreceiving delivered articles in a predeterminedfpositionland includingmechanism for internittentlyprojecting fthefree? end of a strip -of foil or other hegtibleg'y'vrapping'niaterialfin planar'position above or:in front'of the'article'and including mechanism for thereafteneverin'gthe outer portion of the strip into a wrapping fragment and 'thereafter bringing the article .with ,mefsevcred 'fragmentinto a lstuer tunnel to covertherforwardend'gand-g periphery ofthe artcle'in bag formationtls'vithintthewrapper--and,including mechanism tothereafterftwistwand crimp the portion of the bag so formed tightly about the article completing the wrapping operation, all of said mechanisms being operatively synchronized for the successive operations responsible for unitary results and successive discharge of individually wrapped articles or units.

Another object is the provision of a new and eflicient method particularly adapted for capacity scale commercial use for the successively and individually wrapping of articles as they are successively or progressively supplied from a conveyor line or other feeding mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation showing a successful embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and on a somewhat larger scale and l illustrating the stutter tunnel and the cooperation of the reciprocating plunger and wrapper therewith;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation taken on a larger scale illustrating the shiftable wrapper-crimping mecha'- nism and its mounting and actuating parts with the crimping elements disposed in retracted position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view to that of Fig. 5 showing the crimper elements in extreme inwardly protracted position;

Fig. 7 is a detailed cross section takendiagonally along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5 and on a still larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the full machine taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. l',

Fig. 9 is an illustrative, perspective view on substantially full size scale showing the initial wrapping action of the exible wrapper upon the article;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan or end view of the completely' wrapped article showing the structure of the twisted ,folds or crimps formed in the skirt of the individual wrapper; and

Fig. 1i is a detail view from one end of the wrapped article receiving tray detached from the apparatus.

As shown in the drawings, the working mechanisms of the machine are all supported upon an upstanding tablelike frame indicated as an entirety by the letter'F and having, as shown, four angle iron legs 12, the feet of which are arranged in the corners of a rectangle, braced intermediately by a pair of `horizontal supporting beams 13 and suitably interconnected and braced-at their vupper ends to form a slightly elevated top planar surface 14 at the rear of the frame and a recessed forward supporting top 14a (see Fig.'2).

A horizontal endless chain carrier C of conventional structure is associated with my machine, the delivery portion.thereof being shown in Figs. 1 and 2and being trained at its delivery end over'a sprocket 15- which is rotatably mounted on a shaft '15a-supported from the upper portion of the frame and adjacentthe front thereof. Chain C is equipped with upstanding article-abutment'lugs 16,;and the upper leaf of the'chan'works in'a Vlongitudinallyslotted horizontal'guidel? whereby disc-likearti'- cles .-orunits Amay' be vconveyed to 'the' central part of theftop'r'of my machine and; more particularly, into an article receivingchamber 18 mounted-at the lforward and central; and top portions of the machine;

The artlcle-receiving chamber 18, as best shown in Fig."4, has a.' bottom 18a which is centrally declined and provided-with a centralrece'ss 18b adapted't'o centerthe received? article fA 'and L to' also accommodate? the' circular ed a pair of wrapper strip guides 2t) which extend transversely of the front of the machine as viewed in Fig. l and which are spaced apart in parallel relation equidistant from the axis of aperture 18b. These guides, when the machine is in operation, retain in planar fashion a wrapper strip W which is disposed horizontally and centrally below an arcuate stuffer tunnel 21 into which a severed wrapper portion with the article A behind it is stuffed. Tunnel 21 is open at both ends and is restricted slightly at a zone 21a adjacent its delivery end and is provided with a discharge extension 2lb extending horizontally and spaced a slight distance from the zone 21a to provide an opening for accommodation of twisting and crimping mechanism later to be described. Plunger 19 is of arcuate form and of equal-radius curvature to that of stuifer tunnel 21 and is provided with a rigid attachment arm 19b which is rotatably mounted by a hub fixed to a rotary stub shaft 22 which, as shown in Fig. 4, extends transversely of the upper portion of the frame and is suitably joumalled, the axis of said shaft being concentric with plunger 19 and the arcuate center of tunnel 2l. A rocker arm 19e is rigidly aiiixed or keyed to shaft 21 and has pivotally connected to the outer end thereof an actuating link or rod 56 which extends downwardly and is connected with actuating mechanism later to be described.

The discharge extension 2lb of the tunnel delivers to a horizontal article receiving trough 24 which is preferably provided at opposite sides and adjacent the upper edges of the trough with inwardly extending frictional article retaining means as shown in the form of two opposed brushes 24a (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 1l).

Mechanism is provided for supplying a continuous web or strip of suitable flexible wrapping material W from a roll R, as shown comprising a pair of suitable supporting brackets 25 secured to the legs 12 at one side of the frame and intermediate of the height thereof and the supporting removable roll shaft 26 which, as shown, has mounted thereon a roll spool 27 having a helically wound roll of wrapper strip W thereon. Various types of flexible wrapper material may be utilized such as conventional strips consisting in wrapping paper material covered with a very thin coating or sheeting of metal foil, such strip being adapted to well retain its shape after being folded or twisted into a predetermined position.

The wrapper strip W, after being paid off of roll R, is guided over a small idler roll 28 which is joumalled transvercely the ends of a strip tightening'bracket 28a pivotally mounted at the inner side of the machine frame and urged upwardly into tightening position by a coil spring 29. The wrapper strip then is extended downwardly and trained about a joumalled idler roll 30 mounted transversely at the top and adjacent the right hand side of frame F. The free end of the wrapper strip W then passes' between feeder rolls 31 and 32, feeder roll 31 being afiixed to a rotary shaft which has a driven gear 33 affixed to the forward end thereof, said gear being intermittently driven by a larger actuating gear 34. Cooperating feeder roll 32 is driven in the reverse direction from roll 31 through intermeshing of driven gear 33 with a similar gear 32a affixed to the cooperating roll, s aid rolls having a light clamping action upon the fr'ee end of the wrapper strip, in operation. From between rolls 31 and 32, the wrapper strip is fed horizontally-into the cooperating guidesi20 mounted in the top of article receiving chamber 18. A vertically swingable cutter knife 35 (see Figrl and.Fig. 8) is pivoted at its' innerend just below theupper horizontal surfacei'14 of the frame for-downward swinging through power actuation in a position close to the wrapper yentrance end of article receivingichamber 18, being adapted to sever the forward-rectangular 'fragtical mounting plate 36 surrounds and is atlixed to a reinforcing sleeve 36a which encircles the slightly reduced zone 21a near the discharge end of stuffer tunnel 2l. This mounting plate 36 has aiiixed thereto four sets of stationary block guides 37, each set comprising a pair of parallel bars disposed generally radially of zone 21a of the stuffer tunnel and, as shown, the sets being angularly related at 90 angles therebetween. A series of small blocks 38 are slidably mounted between the pairs of guides 37 for reciprocating movement radially of the discharge end of tunnel 21 and these blocks 38 have dctachably secured to the rear and outer faces thereof crimper elements 39 which, in operation, collectively act somewhat in the manner of a shutter to close the skirt of the individual wrapper about the bottom or rear end of the article unit while simultaneously crimping and twisting the skirt to seal the same and complete the unit package. Crimper elements 39, as shown, are each detachably secured to their appropriate sliding blocks 38 by a pair of longitudinally spaced screws 39a. Each of the sliding blocks 38 has a perpendicular, forwardly projecting guide pin 40 fixed thereto as by threadedconncction 40a and the several pins 40 are accommodated and guided for recip rocaiion radially of tunnel sections 21a and 2lb by radial slots36b appropriately formed in the mounting plate 36. A heavy rectangular shift plate 41 is mounted for oscillation concentrically of tunnel section 21a, being journallcd as shown upon the reinforcement ring 36a, said shift plate 41 having a rocker arm 41a fixed to one of the corner portions thereof and extending outwardly to the right of the machine as shown in Fig. l. Shift plate 41 is provided with a series of curved slots 41b arranged in whirligig fashion for accommodating and, by cam action, moving the heavy guide pins 40 of the several crimper elements to cause sliding blocks 38 and the crimper elements carried thereby to reciprocate radially of the central mounting plate 36. The slots 41b are arcuatcly curved along similar radii and so arrangt L. t these slots throughout movement of the shift pla. e always intersect radius slots 36b in the stationary mounting plate to bring about the recited reciprocating action of the crimper ele ments 39 when shift plate 41 is oscillated through the requisite arc approximating 45.

Power mechanism for actuating and synchronizing vthe operations of the various mechanisms previously described, is compactly mounted as shown within the confines of frame F and below the top of the machine, in the form illustrated all being driven from a single source of power which may be an electric motor M. Motor M is supported on a horizontal shelf 43 which traverses the front and rear stringer bars 13 and the power take-off of the motor, as shown, is connected by endless chain 44 for driving the driven shaft of a transmission mechanism or gearbox houscd'in casing 46. The power take-off shaft through beveled gears, not shown, is at right angles cross shaft 50 which is suitably journaledin bearings 50a aillx'ed'to the top of shelf 43 and a second shelf 43a, also supported at the same height upon frame-Stringer memit' A From driven-cross shaft 50, the stuifer mechanism l(curvedplunger 19) and-also .the crimping and twisting mechanism 4(shift plate 41 with its related sliding blocks 38,` and the crimper elements 39 carried thereby), are actu ated inreciprocating.manner.l Tothis end, I provide an elongated actuatingtlever 51 fulcrumedas shown at its outer end between spaced fulcrum lugs 52 atixed to the top of; the rear-'strnger 13, lever 51 extending inwardly andas shown, terminating short of the front side of the frame. 1,: Actuating lever 51 is urged upwardlyby suitable 'means such aszan'elon'ged coil spring 53 connected at its :lower-.end-'toian intermediate portion-of. the lever and having ite' upper end as shown, connected with a depending strap 54 athxed to the upper and rear portion of the frame.

Lever 51 is reciprocated by a revolving, generally ovoid shaped cam 55 (see Fig. 8) which is atiixed to the intermediate portion of cross shaft 50 and the edge of which engages a cam roller 51b pivoted upon the intermediate side portion of actuating lever 51.

An upwardly extending rigid rod or link 56 is pivotally connected at its lower end with a longitudinally adjustable shoe 56a mounted adjacent the free end of lever 51 and the upper end of rod 56 is pivotally connected with the rocker arm 19C of the plunger mechanism whereby when lever 51 is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 8, the plunger 19 is disposed in its full retracted position and will be swung to stuifer operation upon downward movement of lever 51.

A second upwardly extending operating rod 57 is connected pivotally at its lower end with an adjustment shoe 57a mounted a short distance inwardly from the shoe 56a upon lever 51 and the upper end of this rod 57 is pivotally connected with the rocker arm 41a of the shift plate 41 of the crimping and twisting mechanism whereby as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 6, the crimping elements 39, are in extreme, inwardly protracted or crimping positions when actuating lever 51 is elevated, as shown in Fig. 8 and are moved radially outward in the descending movement of lever 51. f

The progressive wrapper strip-feeding mechanism and the progressive strip-severing mechanism are both driven and synchronized through actuating mechanism, now to be described, all of which is driven from the rear end of the cross shaft 5t). To this end, a beveled gear 59 is affixed to the rear extremity of shaft 50 and is meshed with a beveled gear 60 atiixed to a short cross shaft 61 which is mounted in suitable bearings 61a secured to the top of horizontal shelf 43a. Shaft 59 has aliixed to one end portion thereof a chain sprocket 62 about which an endless driving chain 63 is trained, the upper end of said chain being trained about a sprocket 64 affixed to the medial portion of a shaft 65 journaled within the upper and left side portion of the frame on suitable brackets 65a which are aiiixed to two of the legs 12 of the frame on the left side of the machine. Two cams 66 and 67, respectively, are aiiixed to the upper shaft 65, the larger cam 66 controling and eifecting the operation of the progressive ratchet mechanism for paying out the wrapper strip. The smaller cam 67 disposed on the outer end of shaft 65, controls and actuates the shearing knife 35.

Referring now to the actuation of the wrapper stripfeeding, the larger cam 66 which is of the special eccentric shape well shown in Fig. l, is positioned so that its edge engages a cam roller 68 which is pivoted: to the side and intermediate portion of an actuating lever 69, said lever being fulcrumed at its upper end to a bracket 69a mounted below the top of the machine at the left front corner thereof, said lever with its cam roller 68` riding the cam 66 and being swingably reciprocated thereby. In Fig. l, the depending, actuating lever 69 is shown in dotted lines in its extreme outwardly moved position, as actuated by cam 66, having just completed the feeding cycle of the wrapper strip-feeding mechanism. Link and ratchet mechanism are interposed between the outer portion of actuating lever 69 and the progressively rotated, larger gear 34 of the strip-feeding mechanism. To this end, an arm 70 is rotatably mounted at its inner end upon the shaft to which gear 34 is atiixed, the outer end of said arm 70 being connected for intermittent oscillation by a rigid link or rod with the lower portion of actuating lever 69. For adjustment purposes, a series of apertures '71a may be formed in the lower portion of lever 69 to engage the turned end or wrist pin provided by the outer end of link 71. Swingable arm 70 is urged to swing towards the right hand side of the frame by suitable means such as a coil spring 72. The arm 70 has pivoted thereto, a dog 73 which is spring-held against the teeth of gear 34,

slipping over said teeth when arm 70 is swung counterclockwise as seen in Fig. l and engaging said teeth to impart a clock-wise rotation to gear 34 during the actuating stroke of lever 69. Thus, it will be seen that with the shape of cam 66, gear 34 is progressively driven through a part of a revolution, approximating perhaps one sixth of a turn during each complete revolution of cam 66 which of course through the gear ratio between gears 34 and 33 revolves gear 33 aflixed to the strip-feeding roll through a much greater angular turn, approximating say three fourths of one revolution.

The cutter knife 35 is actuated through a T-shaped lever 74, see Fig. l, one end of the T of which is fulcrumed in a bearing 74a mounted at the rear side of the left front leg 12 of the frame, said lever having the stem portion of the T 74]) provided with a cam-rider roller 75 which rides the periphery of the smaller cam 67. As shown in Fig. l the T-lever 74 is in extreme upwardly swung position with its right hand stem in Fig. 1 elevating the cutter knife above cutting position preparatory to subsequent cutting. A coil spring 76 conects the lower end of lever stem 74]; with the adjacent leg of the frame to urge the lever downwardly and thus, hold the cam-riding roller at all times against the edge of the cam.

Referring now in detail to my mechanism, for closing, twisting and rcrimping the bag-like wrapper formed in the stuffer tunnel, it will, of course, be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific form of such mechanism disclosed although the same is preferred and has been perfected after exhaustive experimentation with other crimping mechanism utilizing a plurality of cooperating, reciprocating elements. As shown, the several crimper elements 39 are in the form of rigid plates, vertically disposed for cooperative engagement with the skirt of the bag-like wrapper formed in the stuiiing tunnel. The greater portion of said plates are planar and the inner ends of each terminate in blunt points 39b, longitudinally centered and formed by converging edges. Each of said plates has a corresponding straight crimping edge 39C and at the opopsite side of the point, has a slightly off-set twisting element 39d which in the shutter-like cooperation of the several plates is adapted to underlap the straight crimping edge 39o of the adjacent cooperating plate (see Figs. 5 and 6). The twisting element or portion 39d of each plate, as shown, is defined at its outer longitudinal edge by substantially a continuation of the corresponding longitudinal edge of the body of that plate and from the blunted point portion 39h of the plate, the twisting element is defined as shown by an almost straight line extending nearly perpendicular to the intersecting longitudinal line. The twisting portions 39d of the plates are connected with the bodies thereof by beveled portions 39e.

The cooperating crimping elements, as specifically illustrated and described, have proven .in extensive actual usage to be highly elicient for closing the skirt of the bag-like wrapper formed upon the article tightly against the bottom end of the article and for sealing the article through twisting, folding and formation of underlying wrapper edges s beneath the article enclosed. In functioning (see Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive), the article unit A of somewhat smaller diameter than stutter tunnel 21 is thrust upwardly against the severed wrapper section W, plunger 19 carrying the article through tunnel 21 and to a position within tunnel extension 2lb slightly past the general vertical plane defined by the crimping elements 39. It is important that adjustment of the stroke of plunger 19 be provided for so that articles of different thickness may be properly wrapped and also to permit the closing and sealing of the bag-like wrapper to be relatively tight or loose as desired. To such ends, it will be noted (see Fig. 4) that a set screw 19d is provided on the hub of rocker lever or arm 19e to facilitate wide variance of angular mounting of said arm upon shaft 22 and the attachment hub of plunger 19 may also be provided with I an adjustment set screw x to facilitate angular adjustment of the plunger upon shaft 22.

In the cooperating and inward protraction of the crimper elements 39, against the skirt of the wrapper, the slightly off-set crimping portions 39d engage the skirt and the small folds previously formed in the stuffing operation upon the wrapper (see Fig. 9) and bend and twist said portions and folds of the skirt around the crimping edge 39e of the adjacent crimper element to leave and form, as shown, four sets of tightly folded terminal edges arranged generally in the form of a pinwheel or four point star (see Fig. l). The crimping, shutter-like closing action and simultaneous twisting upon flexible wrappers which contain foil sheets or impregnation leaves a reinforced closed end which retains its shape, sealing the article. In the subsequent outward retraction of the crimper elements 30, the folds and underlying edges are not disturbed and the articles so wrapped remained vertically positioned in the tunnel extension 2lb until, .in the next cycle of operation, another article is bag-wrapped in the tunnel and brought to crimping position thereby abutting the fully wrapped article and delivering it from tunnel extension 2lb upon the tray 24 wherein the resilient friction bristles or other elements of the retaining means such as brushes 24a hold the article and permit progressive movement of a plurality o-f articles outwardly of the trough through successive abutments, such abutments having the effect of further sealing and crimping the turned under edges s ofthe wrap.

Operation As shown in Figs. l to 4, inclusive and in Figs. 6 and 8, the numerous working and actuating parts of the several mechanisms are positioned at the stage of the cycle of operation where an article has been partially encased in the stutfer tunnel 21 by a then-bag-shaped wrapper; brought to position for crimping in the tunnel discharge extension 2lb and almost fully crimped by the cooperating crimper elements 39.

The lower actuating lever 51 swung by cam 55 is then in its almost fully elevated position as shown in Fig. 8 causing plunger 19 through connection by the rod 56 to be substantially fully retracted with the head 19a thereof slightly depressed below the bottom 18a of the article r receiving chamber. The shaft plate 41 of the crimping mechanism at such time is in the position shown in Fig. 6 through the previous upward thrust of connecting rod 57, which, as has been previously described, produces the highly eicient closing, twisting and crimping action e.

to produce the underlying sealing edges s of the Wrapper. The upper actuating lever 69 (see Figs. l and 8) is then in its fully retracted position having just driven the rachet gear 34 to actuate the feed strip mechanism and thereby causing a section (the free end) of wrapper strip W t to be positioned in the guides of the article chamber as shown in Fig. 4. At the same time, the T-lever 74 actuated by the smaller cam 67 is disposed. in its protracted or highest upward swinging relation with the cutter knife 35 (see Fig. 8) disposed above the protracted wrapper strip W preparatory to downward movement for severing the strip.

In the next portion of the cycle of operation, the lower actuating lever 51 is swung downwardly (through the edge of cam 55) rapidly and forcibly swinging plunger 19 upwardly and arcuately through tunnel 21 while simultaneously through rod 57 and its connection with shift arm 41a, retracting the several cooperating crimper elements 39. Simultaneously with this second phase of the cycle, cutter knife 35 (see Fig. 8) is swung downwardly by its conection with the inwardly extending arm 74e of the T-lever 14 and the rachet mechanism including the arm and dog 73 is retracted preparatory to its next cycle step of feeding the strip.

The several mechanisms, it will be seen, are all synchronized for simple cycles of operation, such portions of the cycle being kept at distinct intervals to the end that my compact, high capacity machine will withstand hard usage and a great amount of wear, and will function at proper operating speeds of the actuating levers to progressively or successively and very rapidly individually wrap the articles received from conveyor C.

While the stuffing mechanism and operation of my machine is by no means limited to an arcuate stuffing tunnel having its entrance end disposed horizontally and its discharge end disposed vertically, such arcuate construction has distinct advantages in that the article may be nested in horizontal position prior to operation of the plunger 19 and is initially wrapped at its forwardly projecting end and peripheral portion and forced to a vertical position for subsequent operation of the crimping mechanism. In such vertical position due to the frictional relationship of the then-bag-shape wrapper sheet, the article is nicely retained with the wrapper thereon without requirement of any additional retaining means whereas if tunnel 19 is made straight and vertical, retaining means would probably be required.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for individually and successively wrapping article units, the combination of means for releasably retaining a wrapper sheet in substantially planar position, a substantially arcuate stutter tunnel of smaller cross-sectional area than said sheet and having an entrance centrally related at one side of said retaining means and disposed substantially perpendicular to a wrapper sheet retained, an article unit support at the opposite side of said retaining means and a sheet held thereby, a swingably reciproating plunger pivoted on an axis concentric with the arc of said tunnel having a head of somewhat smaller area than the cross-sectional shape of said tunnel and disposed in co-axial relationship with said tunnel and when retracted being disposed outwardly of both said entrance and a retained wrapper sheet close to said article support in a position for intermittently receiving article units, driven mechanism for intermittently reciprocating said plunger through at least the. greater portion of said tunnel to stuff a wrapper sheet about the forward end and periphery of an article unit in the form of a bag having an open skirt trailing said article in said tunnel, said tunnel having a discharge end removed from said entrance and crimping and closing mechanism associated with said tunnel-discharge end and having cooperating elements projectable and retractable transversely to close and twist the skirt of said bag-like wrapper sheet against the trailing end of the article unit.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said tunnel is curved longitudinally having its entrance extremity disposed horizontally and having its discharge extremity disposed substantially vertically and wherein the cooperating elements of said crimping and closing mechanism work through aperture-space provided in the discharge portion of said tunnel.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 and a common power-driven actuating mechanism for said reciprocating plunger and for said crimping mechanism comprising a common actuating element, a link connection between said actuating element and said plunger and a second link connection between said several cooperating elements of said crimping mechanism and said actuating element, said link connections being synchronized and related to said actuating element to protract said plunger while retracting the elements of said crimping mechanism and to retract said plunger while protracting the elements of said crimping mechanism.

4. In a machine for individually and successively wrapping article units, the combination of means for releasably retaining a wrapper sheet in substantially planar position, a substantially arcuate stuier tunnel of smaller cross-sectional area than said sheet and having an entrance centrally related at one side of said retaining means and disposed substantially perpendicular to a wrapper sheet retained, a swingably, reciprocating plunger having a head of somewhat smaller area than thetcrosssectional shape of said tunnel and disposed in co-axial relationship with said tunnel and when retracted being disposed outwardly of both said entrance and a retained wrapper sheet in a position for intermittently receiving article units, driven mechanism for intermittently reciprocating said plunger through at least the greater portion of said tunnel to stuff a wrapper sheet about the forward end and periphery of an article unit in the form of a bag having an open skirt trailing said article in said tunnel, said tunnel having a discharge end removed from said entrance, and crimping and closing mechanism associated with said tunnel-discharge end and comprising a support mounting extending in a general surroundingrelation to the discharge end of said tunnel, a plurality of cooperating crimping and twisting elements supported from said mounting in circumferentially spaced arrangement and for reciprocation along lines radial to the axis of the discharge end of said tunnel to cooperatively engage, close and twist the said skirt portion of a wrapper about the trailing end of its enveloped article unit and a common shift member connected with all of said crimping elements to simultaneously retract said elements radially when shifted in one direction and to simultaneously protract said elements inwardly toward the axis of said tunnel-discharge when shifted in the Opposite direction.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and each of said elements having at its inner end a Substantially, longitudinally centered blunt point, a diagonally diverging crimping edge extending from said point and at one side thereof and a twisting and cooperating crimping portion disposed at the opposite side of said point and slightly oli-set in substantial parallelism with the body of said crimping element for underlapping the diagonal crimping edge of the adjacent crimping element to cooperate therewith in folding, crimping and twisting fold portions of the skirt of said bag-like wrapper sheet.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said support mounting being stationary and having a plurality of converging slots therein disposed radially of the discharge end of said tunnel and said shift member being mounted for oscillation on substantially the axis of said tunnel discharge and disposed at one side of said mounting with said several crimping elements disposed at the opposite side of said mounting and connected with said shift member by short pins and said shift member having a .plurality of curved slots arranged in whirligig fashion relative to the discharge end of said tunnel and each accommodating one of said connecting pins whereby oscillation of said shift member will successively retract and project said crimping elements.

7. A machine for individually and successively wrapping article units having in combination guide means for releasably retaining the free end of a continuous flexible wrapping strip in planar relation, mechanism for intermittently and transversely severing the retained portion of said strip at predetermined intervals, mechanim synchronized with said severing mechanism for intermittently projecting the severed free end of said strip forwardly into said retaining means at predetermined intervals upon the completion of said severing operations, a substantially arcuate stuf'fer tunnel of smaller cross-sectional area than the portion of said sheet retained in said guide means and having a substantially vertical entrance disposed centrally at one side of said wrapper sheet and substantially perpendicular to the general plane of said sheet, a swingably reciprocating plunger arm having a head of somewhat smaller area than the cross-sectional shape of said tunnel and disposed in co-axial relationship with said tunnel and when retracted being disposed outwardly of said entrance and also outwardly of the retained sheet portion of said wrapper strip and in a position for intermittently receiving article units, driven mechanism synchronized with said severing mechanism and said wrapper strip projecting mechanism for intermittently reciprocating said plunger through at least the greater portion of said tunnel to stuff a wrapper sheet about the forward end and periphery of an article unit immediately after operation of said severing mechanism, said tunnel having a discharge end and crimping and closing mechanism associated with said discharge end and synchronized with said plunger actuating mechanism to close and crimp the trailing portion of the stutter wrapper at predetermined intervals closely following the returning movement of said plunger.

8. In a machine for individually and successively wrapping article units, the combination of mechanism for releasably retaining a flexible wrapper sheet in substantially horizontal and substantially planar position, a substantially arcuate stuler tunnel of circular cross section having an entrance end disposed substantially horizontally and a discharge end disposed substantially vertically, mechanism for releasably retaining a flexible wrapper `sheet in substantially planar, horizontal position across the entrance of said tunnel, an article unit support extending to a point below said wrapper sheet and the entrance of said tunnel, a swingably reciprocating plunger arm pivoted on an axis concentric with the arcuate longitudinal center line of said tunnel, said arm carrying at its outer end a plunger of slightly smaller area than the cross section of said tunnel and when retracted disposed below said wrapper sheet coaxially of the tunnel entrance, mechanism for intermittently reciprocating said arm to project said plunger into said tunnel and thereafter withdraw the same to starting position, the protraction of said plunger stufling a wrapper sheet in the form of a bag about the forward end and periphery of an article unit and mechanism synchronized with said plunger actuation for closing and folding the skirt of said bag-like wrapper after protraction of said plunger.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8, said closing and folding mechanism having cooperating elements projectable radially and inwardly towards the axis of the discharge end of said tunnel and power driven mechanism for operating both said plunger arm and said crimping and closing mechanism and including a common driven element and connections between said driven element and said swingable plunger arm and said crimping and closing mechanism synchronized to ellect protraction of said plunger during retraction of said crimping and closing mechanism and retraction of lsaid plunger during protraction of said crimping and closing mechanism.

10. In a machine for individually and successively Wrapping article units and moving the wrapped units along an article holder, the combination of mechanism for releasably retaining a flexible wrapper sheet in substantially horizontal and planar position, a substantially arcuately extending stuffer tunnel having an entrance disposed substantially perpendicular to a retained wrapper sheet and having a discharge extending substantially horizontally some distance above said entrance, means at said tunnel discharge for receiving and holding wrapped article units after discharge thereof, a swingably reciprocable arm pivoted coaxially with the arc of said tunnel and carrying at its outer end a plunger head of somewhat smaller area than the cross sectional shape of said tunnel, an article support below said tunnel entrance and below a wrapper sheet retained in said first mentioned mechanism, mechanism for intermittently reciprocating said arm and said plunger from initial position of said plunger below said sheet and with an article thereon received from said support to protract said plunger through the greater portion of said tunnel thereby stuff- 11 12 ing a wrapper sheet in the form of a bag about the formoving wrapped articles horizontally on said article ward end and periphery of an article unit with said bag holder. having an open trailing skirt and then t0 retract said References Cited in the me of this patent plunger to initial starting position, and mechanism synchronized with the actuation ot said plunger for clos- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS ing and folding the skirt of said bag-like wrapper sheet 973,863 Grover Oct, 25l 1910 against the trailing end of the article unit, the successive 1,703,641 Sowden Feb. 26, 1929 protraction of said plunger successively forcing out and 1,783,226 Dixon Dec. 2, 1930 moving wrapped articles horizontally through the dis- 1,934,756 Smith Nov. 14,1933

charge of said tunnel and simultaneously successively 10 2,009,241 Roberts July 23, 1935

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