GB2130544A

GB2130544A - Soap wrapping machine

Info

Publication number: GB2130544A
Application number: GB08326526A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Franco Aiuola
Original assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Current assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Priority date: 1982-10-05
Filing date: 1983-10-04
Publication date: 1984-06-06
Also published as: DE3336440A1; GB8326526D0; IT1156676B; JPS59115208A; FR2534223A1; IT8203552A0

Abstract

Machines for wrapping articles 30 of parallelpiped-shape, e.g. soap tablets, in which pieces of wrapping paper 33 are delivered to a start position together with corresponding tablets alongside, comprise a wrapping drum 39 mounted at the opposite side of the start position to the article and arranged to rotate intermittently through a half- turn. A housing 87 passing radially through the drum is in horizontal alignment with the start position when the drum stops and contains only one article at a time. A pusher 38 operates every time the drum halts, to transfer an article and piece of paper from the start position into the adjacent end of the housing and, by means of the article, to discharge from the other end of the housing a preceding article. Articles discharged from the drum are removed, past final folding means by which the wrapping is completed and, if desired past heat-sealing means. Folding is effected in part by static devices adjacent the drum and in part by devices fixedly mounted on the drum. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Soap wrapping machine This invention relates to a machine for wrapping articles of approximately parallelepiped shape, for example tablets of soap.

One type of known machine for wrapping tablets of soap or other similar tablets in paper comprises a unit which delivers these tablets one at a time and a unit which delivers corresponding pieces of wrapping paper one at a time. Each piece of wrapping paper commonly consists of a flat set of superimposed sheets, one sheet being intended to form an external wrapper for the soap and another sheet an internal wrapper. Conveniently the external wrapping paper is heat-sealable and the machine also comprises a unit for heat sealing the wrapping paper. Commonly, in such wrapping machines, each article to be wrapped is propelled along a rectilinear path, at the start of which the article to be wrapped is brought together with a corresponding piece of wrapping paper.Along this rectilinear path a series of folding means are disposed which manipulate the wrapping paper in sequence so as to wrap it in a closed shape around the parailelepiped-shaped article: first of all, the wrapping paper is wrapped around the lateral surface, of the article so that opposite edges of the paper project beyond end faces of the article. Next, aligned with two opposed side faces of the lateral surface the projecting portions of the paper are folded inwardly towards the end faces so that two opposed tongues are formed for finally closing the wrapper, the tongues being folded one over the other and then being sealed.

The operation of the folding means in the series of folding means is carried out in a direction substantially opposite that along which the article to be wrapped travels; in wrapping machines folding means of this first type are, however, positioned statically along the path of movement of the article, Other folding means, whose operation, on the other hand, occurs in the same direction as that of the travel of the article to be wrapped must have operational movement in the same direction and are therefore mobile along appropriate parts of the path of travel of the article.In order to move according to the necessary operational constraints, folding means of this second type require complex and cumbersome controls which make the wrapping machines difficult to build and to operate, very costly, and occupying unacceptable amounts of space, One object of the present invention is to provide a wrapping machine of simple construction, compact dimensions, and reliable operation which can be readily adapted to wrap parallelepiped-shape articles of different dimensions, as well as being relatively inexpensive.

The invention provides a machine for wrapping articles of approximately parallelepiped shape, for example tablets of soap, comprising a station to which a series of pieces of wrapping paper are delivered in succession together with a corresponding article to be wrapped the pieces of paper being delivered one after another to a start position and the corresponding articles delivered alongside; a drum located adjacent the start position at the opposite side of the position to the article to be wrapped, the drum having a housing passing radial lytherethrough and being arranged to rotate i inter- mittentlythrough a half-turn so that the drum halts at every half turn with the housing in alignment with the station, the housing also being arranged to contain not more than one of the articles to be wrapped at a time, a pusher operated each time the rotation of the drum ceases, to effect transfer of the article and associated piece of wrapping paper from the station into the adjacent end portion of the housing and to effect by means of the article, the discharge of a preceding article and piece of wrap ping paper from the other end of the housing, initial folding means mounted in the housing and operating during the transfer to partially wrap the piece of wrapping paper around the associated article and to provide a preliminary outline in the pice of wrapping paper of pairs of so-called tongues corresponding with end faces of the article, transport means for removing the article and piece of wrapping paper discharged from the housing of the drum, and final folding means positioned along the transport means which complete the folding of the paper and the tongues and fold the pairs of tongues at each end over one another. Conveniently the final folding means are followed by sealing means by which the wrapping paper is heat-sealed to seal the wrapping paper about the article two be wrapped.

Preferably in a machine in accordance with the invention, the housing passing through the drum accommodates a block of dimensions similar to those of an article to be wrapped, in one end portion of the housing, the remainder of the housing being occupied by one of the articlec to be wrapped, the block being mounted in the housing so as to slide alternately from one end to the other in a direction diametrical to the drum, displacement of the block being effected by an article during transfer of the article from the station to the housing by the pusher.

In a preferred machine according to the invention the initial folding means comprises two shaped blocks, by which the housing through the drum is defined laterally, which are so constructed and arranged as to provide a guide for the aforementioned sliding block. The initial folding means further preferably comprises two laminar (plate-like) elements, pivotally mounted on the drum and resiliently urged against the sliding block, defining the housing longitudinally.

In a machine in accordance with the invention comprising a sliding block, the machine preferably comprises a pin extending lengthwise of the drum from the aforementioned sliding block, end portions of the pin passing through corresponding slots, which extend diametrically of the drum, end portions of the pins being engaged by associated integral forked arms mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the drum, Preferably in a machine in accordance with the invention comprising pivotally mounted laminar elements, the elements are mounted along respect tive ones of their longitudinal edges, the pivots being disposed diametrically opposite one another (in relation to the drum); these pivoting edges, together with the other longitudinal edges of each of the laminate elements are conveniently curved to facilitate entry of articles to be wrapped into the housing passing through the drum. Suitably the housing is so constructed and arranged that when the drum is halted with the housing in horizontal alignment with the station so that one of the laminate elements is disposed above and the other below the sliding block, the lower element has its pivoting edge disposed adjacent the station.

In the operation of a preferred machine in accordance with the invention one end portion of the piece of wrapping paper is intended to remain outside the drum and to be engaged as the drum rotates through one half-turn, by a semicircular folding element mounted around the drum and spaced from the drum by a small amount, whereby to wrap the paper over the face of the article to be wrapped which is exposed at the outer end of the housing in the drum.

Conveniently the articles to be wrapped are delivered to the station by conveyor belt which is driven by means of a gear of the so-called "horses head" type from a continually rotating shaft so as to stop each time the pusher operates.

In a preferred machine according to the invention the transport means comprises a pair of continuously driven chains each having regularly spaced teeth therealong arranged in aligned pairs one on each of the chains. The transport means preferably further comprises opposed feed belts by which articles discharged from the drum are transferred to the pair of chains, these feed belts being driven intermittently in timed relation with the drum.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a wrapping machine embodying the invention. It will be realised that this wrapping machine has been selected for description to illustrate the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure lisa diagrammatic plan view with parts broken away of the wrapping machine embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view in front elevation of the wrapping machine; Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of part of the machine; Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views in perspective showing various phases in the operation of the wrapping machine; Figure 6 is a view, partly in section, of part of the wrapping machine; Figure 7 is a timing diagram indicating various relative movements in the operation of the machine; Figure 8 is a view in cross-section of a drum of the machine; Figures 9 and 10 are views with parts broken away and partly in longitudinal section of the drum on planes which are perpendicular to one another.

The wrapping machine embodying the invention comprises a machine frame 200 on which a main horizontal shaft 1 of the machine is mounted for rotation in bearings 2,3. The main shaft 1 is continuously driven in a direction A by a variable speed motor and reduction gear unit (not shown) through a chain 4which passes round a gearwheel 5 keyed to the main shaft 1. A group of cams 6 is also keyed to the main shaft 1, the cams being designed to impart, at the appropriate phases of the operation of the machine, electrical signals to various parts of the machine.

A bevel gear7 is also keyed to the main shaft 1 and meshes with a bevel gear 8 keyed to one end of a horizontal shaft 9 which is perpendicular to the main shaft 1. The shaft 9 is mounted for rotation in bearings 10,11, 12 and rotates continuously in a direction B, driven by the main shaft 1. A gearwheel 13 (see also Figure 3) is mounted eccentrically on the shaft 9 and keyed thereto. A gearwheel 14 is in mesh with the gearwheel 13 and also with a gearwheel 15 which is keyed to a shaft 16 parallel to the shaft 9 and mounted for rotation in bearings 17, on the frame 200. An axle 19 is carried by a pair of arms 20 and a pair of arms 21 which are mounted to swing, respectively, about the shaft 16 and the centre of the gearwheel 13 which is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 9.The gear assembly comprising the wheelS 13,14, 15 is of a type referred to as a "horses head" gear assembly and transforms the continuous uniform rotation of the shaft 9 into a particular variable rotation of the shaft 16. With suitable proportioning of the horses head gear assembly, the shaft 16 (which rotates mainly in direction C) can be arranged to cease rotation once or twice in each cycle of rotation; in the case where rotation ceases twice during each cycle a momentary reversal of direction of rotation of the shaft 16 occurs, that is a momentary rotation of the shaft 16 in the direction opposite to direction C at a reduced speed. A gearwheel 22 is also keyed to the shaft 16 which, by means of a chain 23, drives a wheel 24 keyed to a shaft 25 which is mounted for rotation, parallel to the shaft 16, in bearings 26 carried by the frame 200.A driving roller 27 for a conveyor belt 28 is integral with the shaft 25.

The belt 28 passes round an idler roller 29. As the shaft 25 is driven from the shaft 16, the shaft 25 will rotate intermittently: thus the upper run of the belt 28 moves mainly in the direction D in conformity with the motion of the shaft 16. The articles to be wrapped, for example soap tablets 30, are supplied one after another to the upper run of the belt 28 at the end portion adjacent the roller 27. The tablets 30 have a substantially parallelepiped shape and are set down gently on one of their larger faces on the upper run of the belt 28. They are then transported by the belt in the direction D and come to rest, abutting a preceding tablet: a leading one of the tablets 30 is brought to rest by contact with a stationary barrier 31 (see Figure 1) disposed adjacent the idler roller 29.

In order that the wrapping machine may operate satisfactorily a minimum number of soap tablets abutting one another is necessary and for this reason, upstream of the barrier 31, a special sensor device 32 is disposed which, in the absence of soap tablets 30 adjacent the sensor device 32, terminates delivery of pieces of wrapping paper 33 to a station 34 at which the tablet of soap 30, abutting barrier 31, is arrested.

in the accompanying drawings the wrapping paper (for simplicity of representation) is shown as only a single sheet of paper: in most cases one or more further sheets of wrapping paper will be used and the word "piece" were used herein in connection with wrapping paper is intended to include more than one sheet of wrapping paper where this is appropriate. Where a piece of wrapping paper comprising several sheets is used to wrap an article in a machine in accordance with the invention, the external sheet of paper is conveniently of a heatsealable type so that the wrapped article may be sealed in its wrapping by a heat sealing operation.

In the operation of the wrapping machine embodying the invention, a piece of wrapping paper is delivered to a start position at the station 34, in a substantially flat, vertical condition. A lower region of the piece of paper when in the start position is disposed alongside the conveyor belt and a soap tablet 30 which has been arrested on the belt 28 by the barrier 31; the top of the piece of paper 33, however, is interposed between a lower pair 35a of a set of idler rollers and cooperating run of a pair of small belts 36 (shown partially in Figure 2). It is these belts 36 which, by travelling in a direction F deliver pieces of wrapping paper 33, one after another to the start position at the station 34. The belts 36 are driven by means of a suitable transmission system from a gearwheel 37 secured to the main shaft 1.

The wrapping machine embodying the invention further comprises a reciprocating pusher 38 mounted at the station 34 and arranged to operate transversely to the direction of movement of the belt 28. The pusher 38, when it is about to begin its operative movement (in the condition shown in Figures 1 and 2), is located adjacent the soap tablet 30 which is stationary, abutting the barrier 31, at the opposite side of the tablet 30 to the piece of wrapping paper 33 in the start position. The operative motion of the pusher 38 can be seen from the diagrams SO and SV of Figure 7 which diagrammatically represent horizontal and vertical movements of the pusher 38 in an operative cycle of the wrapping machine.In its operative motion in the direction G the pusher 38 moves substantially horizontally (sections S01 and SV1 of Figure 7) almost grazing the upper run of the belt 28; during this motion the pusher 38 pushes the soap against the aforementioned lower region of the piece of wrapping paper 33 in the start position and effects the transfer of the soap tablet 30 and the piece of wrapping paper 33 into a drum 39 located adjacent the start position of the piece of wrapping 33 at the opposite side of the start position to the conveyor belt 28.

In the operation of the wrapping machine when the pusher 38 engages the soap tablet 30 abutting the barrier 31, the belt (driven as hereinbefore described from the shaft 16) is stationary (section N1 of the diagram N of Figure 7), or, even better, is about to initiate the momentary small reverse motion of the belt 28 in a direction opposite the direction D.When the belt 28 is stationary the load applied by the tablets of soap up-stream of the tablet 30 at the station 34, which is applied to the tablet at the station during movement of the belt in direction D, ceases; in the event that the horses head gear is designed to caue a momentary small reversal of the direction of movement of the belt, the short reversal will relieve any residual frictional load on the tablet which is being pushed from the belt by the pusher 38 between the penultimate tablet and the barrier 31.At the inner end of its operative movement and during an initial period of its return movement, the pusher is lifted (section SV2 of diagram SV) to then have a waiting period in the raised position (section SV3); however, during the return movement (section S02 of diagram SO) the pusher 38 passes over a new soap tablet 30 which, borne by the belt 28 (Section N2 of diagram N) is about to be stopped against the barrier 31. During the final part of its return movement and the first part of its operative movement, the pusher 38 descends (section SV4) to again take up its position slightly above the level of the upper run of the conveyor belt 28. The pusher 38 is provided by a projecting part of a tension rod element of a type of parallel linkage which comprises two parallel links 40,41, this latter being carried by an arm 42.At one of its ends the arm 42 is integral with a pin 44, mounted for rotation in bearings 45, parallel to the shaft 1 and at its other end is pivotally connected by pin 46 to the parallel link 41. The parallel link 40 is secured to a sleeve 47 mounted for rotation about the pin 44 and is connected by a pivot pin 48 to the pusher 38. The pusher 38 is also connected by a pivot pin 49 to the other parallel link 41. A connecting rod 50 is articulated to the parallel link 40 and an eccentric 53 by appropriate articulated joints 51,52 respectively. The eccentric 53 is key and to the shaft 1.An arm 54 is also integral with the pin 44 and carries a roller 55 which engages a face cam 56 keyed to the shaft 9, engagement between the roller 55 and cam 56 being maintained by a spring 57 extending between the arm 54 and the frame 200 of the wrapping machine (shown in Figure 2).

Onto the shaft 9 is also keyed a gearwheel 58 of a type known as a "Z" gearwheel; this type of gear has a sinuous groove 58a, which traverses from side to side of the wheel. In the groove 58a of the wheel 58 a succession of rollers 59 of a drivewheel 60 engage.

The wheel 60 is keyed to one end of a shaft 61 which is parallel with the shaft 1, and mounted for rotation in bearings 62 on the frame 200; a drum 39 is carried by a projection of the shaft 61. The drum 39 is designed to rotate at intervals in the direction H, through a half-turn, around the axis s-s of the drm 39 and shaft 61 (Figures 4,5 and 10) with a specially determined type of motion.

Referring especially to Figures 8,9 and 10, the drum substantially comprises two longitudinal parts 63a, 63b which are connected to one another and to a head 66 keyed to the shaft 61 by screws 64a (self-tapping at 64b), 65. Together the two parts 63a, 63b define a common external cylindrical surface 67 (completely around the end portions of the parts 63a, 63b and along the rest of the drum to a limited extent at two diametrically opposed regions). The two parts 63a, 63b delimit a parallelepiped passage 68, which is defined by two longitudinal walls 69a, 69b and by two lateral walls 70b and which opens into flat portions 71 a, 71 b and 72a, 72b (provided by parallel chordal planes of the cylindrical surface 67).

Two blocks 73 are fixed respectively to the two walls 70b; the blocks 73 extend diametrically of the drum 39 and, without projecting beyond the cylindrical surface 67, project from the flat portions 71a, 71 b and 72a, 72b, the block 73 having symmetrical end portions 74 of a special tapered shape. Fixing screws 76 for these blocks are received in base portions 75 of the bock 73. Between each wall 70b and the associated block 73 a space is formed which opens towards the centre of the passage 68 through a slot 78 in the blocks which extends parallel with the walls 69a, 69b. The blocks 73 are disposed equally spaced from the wall 69a, 69b. Forked ends of arm 79 penetrate into the space 77, the arm 79 being pivotally mounted in passages 80 machined in the parts 63a.The arms 79 are in fact fixed, by means of pins 81, to end portions of a pivot pin 82 which is mounted longitudinally inside the part 63a for pivotal movement in bushes 83 mounted in the parts 63a. The forks of the arms 79 engage an associated roller 84 mounted at the end of a pin 85 extending lengthwise of the drum, the ends of the pin 85 protruding from a block 86 and through the slot 78.

The block 86, the dimensions of which correspond substantially with those of a soap tablet 30 to be wrapped, is of slightly greater thickness than the block 73 and is located in a housing 87 within the passage 68 and which is laterally defined by the blocks 73 and longitudinally defined by two opposed plate-like elements 88a, 88b which are mounted for pivotal movement and resiliently loaded against the respective larger faces of the block 86. In the housing 87 the block 86 is, with a certain amount of friction, able to slide along the block 73 and can also slightly pivot about the pin 85. Sliding of the block 86 is able to take place correctly and without bumping and twisting as guiding is efficiently secured by means of the slot 78 and the two arms 79 which swing integrally and engage the roller mounted at the end of the pin 85 carried by the block 86.

When the block 86 is at one end of the housing 87, that is at one of its stops (Figures 4, 5, 8 and 10), the remaining part of the housing can be occupied by one soap tablet 30 only. The two elements 88a, 88b project beyond the flat portions 71 a, 71 b and 72a, 72b to reach the cylindrical surface 67 and their longitudinal edges are symmentrically curved to facilitate entry of a soap tablet 30 between them.The two elements 88a, 88b are pivotally mounted on the drum at their respective longitudinal edges which in relation to the drum are diametrically opposite to one another and which are curved and secured to associated longitudinal pivot rods 89a, 89b. The rods 89a, 89b are therefore located respectively adjacent to the flattened area 71 a, and 72b and have their ends machined for pivotal mounting on the points of associated screw devices 90. At every half-turn of the drum 39 the elements 88a, 88b are disposed substantially horizontally and the lower one (88b in Figure 6) has its pivoting rod 89b disposed adjacent the station 34, into which soap tablets 30 and associated pieces of wrapping paper 33 are delivered one after another.In proximity to the other flat portions 72a, 71 b pairs of recesses are provided in the wall 69a, 69b in which recesses associated springs 91 are partially received which urge the elements 88a, 88b against the block 86. The movement of the elements 88a, 88b in opposition to the springs 91 is limited by stop screws 92, received in the part 63a, 63b in proximity to the flattened areas 72a, 71 band adjustable in recesses 93 in the part 63a, 63b.It will be seen that the elements 88a, 88b extend longitudinally in such a way as to not obstruct the spaces 77, but that the blocks 73 remain interposed between them with a certain amount of space between the blocks 73 and elements 88a, 88b.

The position is that, every half-turn, the drum 39 is stopped (section T1 of diagram, Figure T7) with the housing 87 in alignment with the station 34 and the block 86 located at the end of the housing 87 which is facing the station 34. In this condition the pusher 38 transfers a soap tablet 30 and a piece of wrapping paper 33 into the end of the housing 87 adjacent the station 34, the soap tablet 30 displacing the block 86 to the other end of the housing 87 (remote from the station 34). At the end of this operation (see Figure 4) the piece of wrapping paper 33 is partly inside and partly outside the drum 39.Inside the drum 39, the piece of wrapping paper 33 which during the transfer has been manipulated between first folders (comprising the block 73 and the sheetmetal, plate-like element 88a, 88b), is partially wrapped around the soap (left hand part of Figure 4), covering an upper face, one vertical face and almost half of its lower face; furthermore, corresponding with each end face of the soap tablet 30, the piece of wrapping paper 33 has been made to form a flap 94a, and to form preliminary outlines 95a and 96a of tongues. At this point the drum 39 rotates by a half-turn in the direction H (Section T2 of diagram T).During this rotation inside the housing 87 there is no movement of the soap tablet 30 nor of the block 86 but the edge of the wrapping paper 33 which is still outside the tongue 39 is being withdrawn from engagement with the belts 36 and rollers 35a, and a guide 97a, to engage with a curved, arched, semi-circular folding element 97 (Figures 2 and 8). The guide 97a projects upwardly, parallel to the small belts 36, from the curved folding element 97 which is located stationary, around an upper part of the drum 39, spaced slightly therefrom. At the end of the rotation (Figure 5) the orientation of the housing is reversed so that the block 86 is again adjacent the station 34 and the soap tablet 30 and wrapping paper are at the point of emerging from the drum 39, having those parts and areas which were initially facing upwards when the tablet 30 was adjacent the station 34, facing downwards. Also the folder 97 has now positioned the piece of wrapping paper 33 against the other vertical face of the soap tablet 30.

The transfer into the drum 39 of a new soap tablet 30 and a new piece of wrapping paper 33 by the subsequent operation of the pusher 38 causes a new displacement of the block 86 within the housing 87 which, in relation to the wrapping machine, is always in direction G (Figures 2 and 8), but in relation to the housing 87 is the opposite of the preceding displacement. The new displacement of the block 86 effects the discharge from the housing 87 of the soap tablet 30 which had previously already been partially wrapped in a piece of wrapping paper 33. On being discharged from the housing 87 of the drum 39, the tablet 30 passes under a folding lip 98 and is then interposed between a pair of small belts 99a, 99b (upper and lower respectively) and its piece of wrapping 33 engages with stationary folders 100 aligned with end faces of the tablet.On striking the folding lip 98 the wrapping of the wrapping paper 33 around the tablet 30 is completed and, because of the folders 100, in correspondence with each of the end faces (the righthand part of Figure 4), a further flap 94b is formed and the pair of tongues 95b, 96b completed. However the small belts 99a, 99b are not yet being moved by their respective drive rollers 101, 102 but do not hinder the discharge of the soap tablet, these rollers being mounted on corresponding shafts 103, 104 with interposed associated freewheel mechanisms 105.

The shaft 103 is mounted for rotation in bearings 106 (Figure 6) on a plate 107 which is equipped with a slot 107a through which the belt 99a projects and which also carries a rotating idler roller 108 for the belt 99a. The plate 107 also provides the folding lip 98. Furthermore the shaft 103 has keyed to it a gearwheel 109 which is in mesh with one of the gearwheels 110; the gearwheels 110 are keyed to a shaft 111 mounted for rotation in bearins 112 on the frame 200 of the machine. A chain 113 is engaged with the other one of the gearwheels 110 and also engages gearwheels 114, 115 (keyed respectively to the shafts 61, 104) andatensioning wheel 116. The shaft 104 is mounted for rotation in bearings 117.At either side of the small belt 99b, two gearwheels 118 rotate freely on the shaft 104, about which pass a pair of chains 119 having drive wheels (not shown); these drive wheels are keyed to a shaft (not shown) which is driven by means of the chain 120 from the wheel 121 keyed to the main drive shaft 1 of the machine.

The chains 119 carry evenly distributed teeth 122 which are designed to propel the soap tablets along support rails 123 and take them away. In fact the teeth 122 of the upper branch of the chains 119 project above the plane of the rails 123 and are moved continuously in the direction I, that is in agreement with the direction G in which the partially wrapped soap tablet is ejected from the housing 87 of the drum 39 by operation of the pusher 38 on a succeeding soap tablet 30. The upper run of the belt 99b and the lower run of the belt 99a move intermittently in the same direction (see for example the rotation indicated by direction L of the shaft 104).

As soon as a soap tablet 30 is discharged from the drum 39 this undergoes rotation H and thus the runs of the belts 99a, 99b are moved and immediately cause the tablet to advance sufficiently so that a corresponding pair of the teeth 122 (one from each of the pair of chains 119) are inserted behind the tablet which then carry the soap tablet along the rails 123. As is well known, by means of transport of the partially wrapped soap tablet in this manner, the tongues 96b, 95b can be folded.

In the wrapping machine embodying the invention described herein, the tongues 96b, 95b are engaged by respective sections of stationary helical folders 124 which effect, in succession, their folding and then their mutual pressing towards the end faces of the tablet. They are then reciprocally welded by hot plates (not shown) located side by side lengthwise of the rails 123. A hotplate 125 is stationarily mounted above the course of the tablet and provides for the welding together of the two edges of the piece of wrapping paper 33 which are superimposed to close the wrapping of the soap.

For access to the path of the soap tablets 30, for example for inspection of the operating instrumentalities of the machine, it is envisaged that the hotplate 125 can be lifted by rotation around hinges parallel with the direction I on the fram 200 of the wrapping machine. It is also envisaged that the plate 107 can be lifted by rotation around the shaft 111, in relation to which it is rotatably mounted. The delivery of a piece of wrapping paper 33 to the station 34 (delivery carried out by the belts 36 in contact with the rollers 35a) is completed at the moment when a lower edge of the piece 33 contacts a stationary support 127 (Figure 2). At this moment (which in Figure 7 is designated x-x) the pusher 38 which has already started its operative motion, pushes a soap block 30 and this latter pushes the associated piece of wrapping paper 33.Following this (at the moment corresponding with y-y) the piece of wrapping paper (which is constrained between rollers 35a and the support 127) is clamped between the soap tablet 30 and the block 86.

Obviously it can be anticipated that the drum 39 might be arranged to rotate by a half-turn not in direction H but in the opposite direction in some instances. In this case in its operative motion G the pusher 38 would push the soap against an upper area of a piece of wrapping paper in a vertical start position (an area which must, however, be free) and furthermore the folding element 97 would follow the lower arc of the drum 39 and whenever the hotplate 125 is necessary, it would be postioned beneath the path of movement of the soap tablets. Obviously it might be expected in some machines embodying the invention that the pusher 38 may move only horizontally without being lifted during the return motion and that the means of transport to take away the soap from the drum 39 might be different from the belts 98,99 and from the toothed chains 119.

Claims

CLAiMS

1. Amachineforwrapping articlesofapproxi- mately parallelepiped shape, for example tablets of soap, comprising a station to which a series of pieces of wrapping paper are delivered in succession together with a corresponding article to be wrapped the pieces of paper being delivered one after another to a start position and the corresponding articles delivered alongside; a drum located adjacent the start postion at the opposite side of the position to the article to be wrapped, the drum having a housing passing radially therethrough and being arranged to rotate intermittently through a half-turn so that the drum halts at every half-turn with the housing in alignment with the station, the housing also being arranged to contain not more than one of the articles to be wrapped at a time; a pusher operated each time rotation of the drum ceases, to effect the transfer of the article and associated piece of wrapping paper from the station into the adjacent end portion of the housing and to effect by means of the article the discharge of a preceding article and piece of wrapping paper from the other end of the housing; initial folding means mounted in the housing and operating during the transfer to partially wrap the piece of wrapping paper around the associated article and to provide a preliminary outline in the piece of wrapping paper of pairs of so-called tongues corresponding with end faces of the article; transport means for removing the article and piece of paper discharged from the housing of the drum; and final folding means positioned along the transport means which complete the folding of the paper and the tongues and fold the pairs of tongues at each end over one another.

2. A machine according to Claim 1 comprising heat-sealing means for sealing the wrapping paper to close the wrapping paper around the article, disposed adjacent the transport means downstream of the final folding means.

3. A machine according to either one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the housing accommodates a block of dimensions substantially similar to those of an article to be wrapped in one end portion of the housing, the remainder of the housing being occupied by one of the articles to be wrapped, the block being mounted in the housing for sliding movement alternately from one end to the other of the housing in a direction diametrical to the drum, displacement of the block being effected by an article to be wrapped during transfer of this from the station to the housing by the pusher.

4. A machine according to Claim 3 wherein the block has, extending lengthwise of the drum, a pin whose end portions project through slots disposed diametrically to the drum and are engaged by associated integral forked arms mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the drum.

5. A machine according to either one of Claims 3 and 4 wherein the initial folding means comprises two shaped blocks by which the housing is defined laterally, which are so constructed and arranged as to provide a guide for the block and further comprises two plate-like elements pivotally mounted on the drum and resiliently urged against the block, by which the housing is defined longitudinally of the drum.

6. A machine according to Claim 5 wherein the plate-like elements are mounted on the drum for pivotal movement at their respective longitudinal edges, disposed diametrically opposite one another in relation to the drum, the pivoting edges together with the other longitudinal edges of the elements being curved to facilitate the entry of articles to be wrapped into the housing,the housing being so constructed and arranged that when the housing is halted in horizontal alignment with the station, one of the plate-like elements is disposed above and the other below the block, the lower element having its pivoting edge adjacent the station.

7. A machine according to any one the preceding Claims wherein one end of the piece of wrapping paper is intended to remain outside the drum in the operation of the machine to be engaged during the half-turn of rotation of the drum with a curved folding element mounted about the drum spaced slightly therefrom.

8. A machine according to anyone of the preceding Claims wherein the articles to be wrapped are delivered to the station one at a time by a conveyor belt which, by means of a gear of the so-called "horses head" type, is driven by a continuously rotating shaft so as to stop each time the usher operates.

9. A machine according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the transport means comprises a pair of chain driven continuously and equipped with regularly spaced pairs of teeth, each chain carrying one tooth of each pair, and opposed feed belts transferring articles discharged from the drum to the chains, these feed belts being driven intermittently in timed relation with the drum.

10. A machineforwrapping tablets of soap of approximately parallelepiped shape constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.