Packing machine

Abstract

A packing machine comprising a rotary assembly ( 2 ) which is adapted to receive articles ( 4 ) travelling along a path which is adjacent one region of the periphery of the assembly, and means ( 26 ) for receiving foil ( 14 ) or other wrapping material, at a different peripheral region, the foil then being oriented in a tangential plane; the assembly further comprising means for reorienting the foil into a plane which is perpendicular to said tangential plane ( 20 ) at a subsequent rotary position, where it is suitably aligned with a cooperating article wrapping means ( 40, 32 ).

1 . A packing or wrapping machine comprising a rotary assembly ( 2 ) which is adapted to receive articles ( 4 ) traveling along a path which is adjacent one rejoin of the periphery of the assembly, and means ( 26 ) for receiving foil ( 14 ) or other wrapper then being oriented in a tangential plane; the assembly further comprising means for orienting the wrapper into a plane which is perpendicular to said tangential plane ( 20 ) at a subsequent rotary position, where it is suitably aligned with a cooperating article wrapping means ( 40 ,  32 ).  
     
     
         2 . A packing machine according to  claim 1  in which the perpendicular plane is also perpendicular to the axis of the assembly.  
     
     
         3 . A packing machine according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  in which the means for receiving the wrapper comprises a pad having a aperture, the pad being pivotable to a position in which the aperture is aligned with a wrapper forming pocket, and at which an article is passed through the aperture to pick up the wrapper and carry it into the pocket.  
     
     
         4 . A packing machine according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  in which the rotary assembly comprises a plurality of article wrapping stations, each comprising a wrapper forming pocket having an entry aperture which, in its operative position, is axially aligned with the aperture in a corresponding wrapper receiving pad, and an exit aperture form which the wrapped article is ejected.  
     
     
         5 . A packing machine according to  claim 4  in which the wrapped article is received in a receiving pocket, after ejection from the wrapper forming pocket, and the wrapper forming pocket is then arranged to be moved in a position in which it is clear of the entry of the receiving pocket to allow the trailing end of the wrapper to be engaged by suitable closure means.  
     
     
         6 . A packing machine according to any of  claims 3  to  5 , in which the wrapper receiving pad and the forming pocket are arranged to pivot between the required positions as they rotate around the drum by means of linkages connected to a crankshaft.  
     
     
         7 . A packing machine according to  claim 4  or  claim 5  further comprising pocketed conveyor means for conveying successive articles to the or each article wrapping station, and reciprocating pusher means which are arranged to plunge the article through the said aperature, into the wrapper forming pocket.  
     
     
         8 . A packaging machine according to  claim 7  in which the wrapper forming pockets are mounted on a drum and oriented in a tangential plane, relative to the drum, in the wrapping position, and the pusher is moved in an axial direction in the said plane.  
     
     
         9 . A packing machine according to  claim 8  in which the pad is pivotally mounted on the drum and moved between its operative positions by means of crank operated mechanism geared to the drum.  
     
     
         10 . A packing machine according to  claim 9  in which the wrapper forming pockets are also pivotally mounted on the drum and arranged to be tilted clear of the trailing end of the wrapped article by means of a crank operated mechanism connected to the drum.  
     
     
         11 . A packing machine comprising a rotary assembly, said assembly including means for receiving a wrapper oriented in a substantially tangential plane at a first rotary position of the assembly, means for reorienting the wrapper at a second rotary position, into a plan which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the assembly, means for advancing an article to be wrapped in an axial directions so as to intercept a wrapper in said perpendicular plan and  
       become partially wrapped therein, and means for receiving said partially wrapped article.  
     
     
         12 . A packing machine according to  claim 11  wherein the receiving means includes a support surface for the wrapper and suction means for retaining the wrapper on said surface.  
     
     
         13 . A packing machine according to  claim 12  wherein the surface surrounds an aperture through which the article is advance by said advancing means.  
     
     
         14 . A packing machine according to  claim 12  or  claim 13  wherein the support surface is formed on a pad which is pivotable between said tangential and perpendicular planes on rotation of said assembly.  
     
     
         15 . A packing machine according to any of  claims 12  to  14  wherein said suction means includes means for supplying suction independently to different regions of said surface, whereby suction may be applied independently to different regions of a wrapper.  
     
     
         16 . A packing machine according to  claim 15  wherein said different regions correspond respectively to at least one inner and at least outer region of a wrapper.  
     
     
         17 . A packing machine according to any of  claims 11  to  16  wherein the means for receiving the partially wrapped article includes a forming pocket through the article and intercepted wrapper are passed by said advancing means.  
     
     
         18 . A packing machine according to  claim 17  further including a receiving pocket for receiving the partially wrapped article from the forming pocket, and wrapper closure means for engaging the wrapper while the article is carried in said receiving pocket.  
     
     
         19 . A packing machine according to  claim 18  including means for displacing the forming pocket on rotation of said assembly to allow access of said wrapper closure means to a trailing portion of a partially wrapped article in a receiving pocket.  
     
     
         20 . A packing machine according to  claim 18  or  claim 19  wherein said advancing means comprises pusher means operable on rotation of said assembly between a first rotational position at which an article is engaged and a second rotational position at which the partially wrapped article is received in a receiving pocket.