Modular wrapping apparatus

Abstract

A modular apparatus is provided for the purpose of packaging an article in a special wrap (such as a single or double twist wrap, an envelope wrap, a bunch wrap, or other special wrap). The modular apparatus has a receiving portion, arranged to receive a partially-wrapped article (such as a tube-wrapped article) into a predetermined location, from another machine, and a special-wrap assembly that forms the desired special wrap. For a double twist-wrap, the special-wrap assembly has rotatable twist grippers that grip the ends of the tube-wrapped article, and twist the ends to form a twist-wrapped article, and includes a twist-wrap drum and Geneva wheels that drive the twist grippers. The modular apparatus is used with a flow-wrap packaging line for wrapping a series of individual articles, which has a first section, in which a film is formed into a tubular wrap about the articles, and a cut-and-seal section, in which the tubular wrap is cut between each two successive articles. The modular apparatus may be detachable from the flow-wrap line but in any event is capable of being deactivated to permit use of the flow-wrap packaging line without the special wrap.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modular special wrap apparatus, comprising: 
 a receiving portion, arranged to receive a partially-wrapped article into a predetermined location, from another machine; and    a special-wrap assembly having at least one set of elements adapted to form a special wrap for the partially-wrapped article.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , where the partially-wrapped article is a tube-wrapped article, and wherein said receiving portion is constructed to receive the partially-wrapped article from a cut-and-seal machine and moves the partially-wrapped article into said predetermined location.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the special-wrap assembly is a twist-wrap assembly, and wherein said at least one set of elements comprises rotatable twist grippers to grip ends of the partially-wrapped article, and to twist the ends to form a twist-wrapped article.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said receiving portion includes a transfer-and-rotate assembly that is constructed to receive the partially-wrapped article from the cut-and-seal machine and to move the partially-wrapped article into said predetermined location while rotating the partially-wrapped article to reorient the partially-wrapped article.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said transfer-and-rotate assembly includes a drum rotatable about a first drum axis, at least one product gripper mounted on a peripheral surface of said drum, said product gripper being rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to said first drum axis, and a drive assembly that rotates said product gripper 90° about said second axis while said drum rotates about said first drum axis.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said twist-wrap assembly includes a twist-wrap drum and includes Geneva wheels that drive said twist grippers.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said Geneva wheels cause said twist grippers to begin rotating immediately after said twist grippers have gripped the partially-wrapped article, and cause said twist grippers to continue to rotate through a predetermined angle, sufficient to effect a twist-wrap, and then to stop.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said twist grippers close on the partially-wrapped article as the partially-wrapped article is received at said predetermined location, and open to release the twist-wrapped article as the twist-wrapped article is transferred from said twist-wrap assembly.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising a discharge drum that is located to receive the twist-wrapped article from said twist-wrap assembly as the twist-wrapped article is released by said twist-wrap assembly.  
     
     
         10 . A flow-wrap packaging line for wrapping a series of individual articles, comprising: 
 a first section, in which a film is formed into a tubular wrap about the articles;    a cut-and-seal section, in which the tubular wrap is cut between each two successive articles, said cut-and-seal section being operable in a first mode, in which the tubular wrap is also sealed, thereby completing wrapping of the articles, and in a second mode, in which the tubular wrap is cut but not sealed; and    a detachable special-wrap section, comprising: 
 a receiving portion, arranged to receive a tube-wrapped article into a predetermined location, from another machine, and  
 a special-wrap assembly having at least one set of elements adapted to form a special wrap in the tube-wrapped article.  
   
     
     
         11 . A packaging line according to  claim 10 , wherein said detachable special-wrap section is a detachable twist-wrap section, and said special-wrap assembly is a twist-wrap assembly having rotatable grippers to grip ends of the tube-wrapped article, and to twist the ends to form a twist-wrapped article.  
     
     
         12 . A packaging line according to  claim 11 , further comprising a control unit that generates control signals to control operation of said sections of said packaging line, said control signals including a registration signal and an encoder signal, and wherein said twist-wrap section has signal lines connectable to receive said registration signal and said encoder signal.  
     
     
         13 . A twist-wrap apparatus, comprising: 
 a receiving portion, arranged to receive a tube-wrapped article into a predetermined location, from another machine; and    a twist-wrap assembly having rotatable twist grippers to grip ends of the tube-wrapped article, and to twist the ends to form a twist-wrapped article, said twist-wrap assembly including a twist-wrap drum and includes Geneva wheels that drive said twist grippers.    
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said Geneva wheels cause said twist grippers to begin rotating immediately after said twist grippers have gripped the tube-wrapped article, and cause said twist grippers to continue to rotate through a predetermined angle, sufficient to effect a twist-wrap, and then to stop.