US1391173A - Icethod of and apparatus for packaging articles - Google Patents

Description

H. DE ESCOBALES.

METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FoR PACKAGING ARTICLES.

vAPPLICATION FILED'JUNE 8.1917.

H. DE ESCOBALES.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUSI FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES.

APPLICATION riunluuf 8, 1911.

1,391,173.'A rafendseptf. 2111921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. DE ESCOBALES.'

METHOD 0F AN-D APPARATUS FORPACKAGING ARTICLES.

. APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 8, 1917.

.N P .MWL @I m H. DE E-scoALES.

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 8,4917.

H. DE ESCOBALES. METHOD oF'ANu APPARATUS PoR PACKAGING ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,' |917.

H. DE ESCOBALES.

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES.

APPLlcATloN FILED JUNE 8.1911.. 1,391,178.

Patentedsept. 20,1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

,Z 3010.4 sau H. DE ESCOBALES;

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FoR PACKAGING ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 19H.

1,1391, 178. Patentedsept. 20, 1921,-

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

3 vwawtoz,

H. DE ESCOBALES.

M'EI'HOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES.

APPLICATION -FILED JUNE 8, 1917.

Patented 1,391,173. sept. 20,1921. FIGn17 FIG. I6 FIGl UNITED 'STA."lliiv PATENT OFFICE.

HILARION DE ESCOBALES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO H. ESCOBALES CO. INC., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF A ND APPARATUS FOB. PACKAGING ARTICLES.

Application filed .Tune 8, 1917.

Be it known that I,H1LARI0N Dn EsooBALns, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Packaging lrticles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the'packaging of articles, pertaining more particularly to apparatusvfor providing the packaging operations and methods of manipulating the wrapping or inclosing elements.

Vvlhile the invention is adapted forythe packaging of commodities of different types, the embodiment shown is designed more particularly for the packaging of tobacco products, especially of cigarettes'or little cigars, although, as hereinafter pointed out, the apparatus may be employed for the packaging of other tobacco products, such, for instance, as plug tobacco. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, it is assumed that the commodity to be packaged is a predetermined 'number of cigarettes.

In packaging tobacco products certain essential features must be considered in producing a package which is neat and attractive in appearance and which will provide for proper service conditions.

F or instance, one of the features is to Amaintaimas far as possible, the characteristic qualities of the product present at the time of manufacture, even though the package does not reachthe consumerv for a considerable length of time. The package should, therefore, be of a form which will tend to reduce as far as possible access of air and moisture to the product during this period. In the present inventionthis feature may be taken care of by employing a wrapper which is folded about Vthe cominodity to produce a closely-wrapped packet, and then positioning Athis packet within an outer container. If desired, the wrapper may be of material having` air and moisture proof qualities, as for instance, tin foil or a composite tin foil structure.

Another feature is the requirement that the paCkagecarry its Government stamp in such manner that the stamp must be muti- Specification of Letters Patent.

operation,

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

Serial No. 173,558.

tainer, and then securing another portion of the stamp toan exposed face of the container in such manner that the packet cannot be removed from'the container without rupturing the stamp. While complying with the Government requirement in this `manner, the particular manner in which the stamp is securedin position also enables a stamp to act as a means for maintaining the packet in position within the container regardless of whether or not the container closing flap is in its closed position, the closing flap acting to reta-in the packet in its inclosed position afterA thestamp has been ruptured.

Another and important feature is the cost of production of the package, it being readily understood that tobacco product packages. are generally of a predetermined standard and marketed at comparatively low price. Hence, where, in order to meet the various essentials, the cost of packaging is materially increased, the question of cost of production of the package becomes of material importance in the ability to market the product. Where the packaging involves a number of operations, requiring different mechanisms and more or less manipulation manually, the cost of labor becomes an important item. The present invention meets this condition by completing the packaging including the wrapping, the stamp application and inclosing of the packet within the container, in a single apparatus in which the various operations are provided in automatic sequence, the ciga- ,rettes being segregated from bulk supply into charges of the desired number of cigarettes and forming the product to be packaged, the wrapper being .preferably supplied from a roll and cut into proper length, the stamps being of the usual striplike form supplied by the Goverment, and the containers being in blankY form, the apparatus providing a vseries* of successive steps of manipulation of one or more of the parts of the package with Vthe result that the charge of cigarettes selected is discharged from the apparatus in a completely packaged form; as a result, it is necessary only for the operator to prevent either of the sources of supply of the several parts of the package from becomi-ng empty. Obviously, therefore, a single operator may take care of one or more machines, thus reducing the labor cost to a minimum as well as providing for a largely increased output.

Vith these general objects in view, together with other objects which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts, together with methods of manipulation, all as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing one embodiment of apparatus for` carrying out the invention, parts being broken yaway or omitted for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Y

Figs. 3 and lare cross-sectional views taken on line 3 3 and 4 4 respectively of Fig. 2V.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view of a portion of the elements of Fig. 5, showing certain elements in a different position.

Figs. 7 and 8 'are fragmentary detail sectional viewsshowing the manner in which the cigarettes are placed in position for wrapping.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the machine.

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional .views taken on lines 10-10 and 11 11 respectively of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken'on line 12H12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a face view of a cam for operating the main plunger.

Fig. 14: is a detail side elevation of a stamp feeding mechanism which may be employed.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation showing portions of a blank feeding mechanism.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of parts shown in Fig. 15. y

Figs. 17 to 30 inclusive show more or less diagrammatically successive stages in the wrappingstamp-applying and containerinclosin'g operations.

To enable a better understanding of the apparatus to be had, I willfirst give a brief description of the successive steps employed in producing the package (Figs. 17 to 30).

The cigarettes to be packaged are first segregated from the bulk into row formation and delivered to a carrier in such formation, the carrier then being shifted to a position where the charge is introduced into the path of travel of 'a plunger. The charge is then advanced by the plunger into contact with a wrapper blank (previously fed into position by suitable feed mechanism operating to advance a web of the wrapper-forming material and severing the web at the proper point to produce the blank) Fig. 17 the advance of .the plunger then carrying the charge and the wrapper into a horizontally extending folding channel which is adapted to'fold the non-contacting portions of the blank on to the top and bottom faces of the charge and turn-in advance portions of the wrapper' onto the sides of the charge, Fig. 18. The charge and wrapper in this form are carried through theV folding chan- Y nelV into a vertically movable carrier positioned at the end of the channel, the projecting rear end of the wrapper remaining within the channel, the portion of the wrapper in advance of the rear of the charge and the charge itself passing into the carrier. The carrier is then lowered, withdrawing the projecting end of the wrapper and folding it upwardly against the rear of the charge, (Fig. 19) this movement of the carrier bringing it into alinement with a second folding channel and into the Ypath of movement of a secondplunger which has its advancing movement in a direction opposite the advance movement of the first plunger. At this stage, the portion of the wrapper previously at the rear becomes thev advance of the packet, and the-advancing movement of the second plunger carries the packet into the second folding channel which acts to fold the upwardly extending end of the wrapper on to the top of the charge-Fig. 20 preferably to overlap the opposite end of the wrapper, this folding being followed by the turning-in of advance portions of the wrapper to produce end flaps at the ends of the packet Fig. 21. As the packet continues its advance movement (due to the advance movement of the second plunger) the top end flaps are first folded down (Fig. Y22), the lower end aps then being turned up toV overlap the top flaps (Fig. 23), completing the wrapping of the charge, thus placing those portions of the wrapper ends which extend into the end flaps in anunderlyingY relation in the end flap formation. The completion of the advance ymovement of the second plunger places the wrapped packet in the path of travel of a third plunger having its advance movement in a direction at right angles to that of the .second plunger, the arrangement being such that during the advance movement of the third plunger, one or" the {lap-closed ends of the packet becomes the advance end of the packet. Advance of the third plunger advances the packet into contact with the adhesively-coa-ted face of with its adhesively-coated face uppermost,

projecting in rear of the packet (the packet portion of Fig. 25). Further advance of the packet brings its advance end-withthe stamp overlying such end-into contact with a container blank (F ig. 25) previously positioned by suitable feeding mechanism, the contact being at that point of the container blank which will, in the complete package,-

orm the bottom of the package. As the packet continues its advance, it passes into a channel which acts to carry the opposite ends of the container on to the top and bottom taces ot the packet and in overlying relation to the portion of the stamp atlned to the wrapper, and carries the side aps ot the portion of the blank at the top of the packet into contact with an adhesiveapplying mechanism and then into operating relation with devices for turning these adhesively-coated or strip iiaps downwardly (F ig. 26), the continued movement tien bringing the side flaps of the under container portion into proper relation with mechanism for turning these i'laps upwardly into contact with the adhesive of the upper flaps-Iig 27-the completion of the advance movement ot the third plunger placing the containerinclosed packet atV the upper end of a well with the end laps and the .closing flap of the container extending into such channel. Upon retreat of the third plunger, operating fingers are manipulated to carry the `end laps inward-Fig. 28* after which a vertically reciprocating plunger moves the package downwardly within the well a distance equal to the thickness or" the package, this movement acting to turn up the closing flap over the end of the packet, carrying the stamp into contact with such packet end, and leaving exposed, above the top plane oi the upper face of the container, a` portion ot the container closing flap and a projecting end oi the stamp (Fig. 29), these elements being in the path ot travel of the succeeding` container while being positioned overithe well, such succeeding container turning down these proj ecting portions, thus extending the stamp over the upper tace of the container with the adhesive tace of the stamp in contact with the container, the extreme end of the closing flap overlying the stamp-Fig. 30. As the downward movement ot the succeeding container is made, pressure will be applied to the overlying and exposed portion of the stamp, thus aiiining the stamp to the container tace, and completing the package formation.

'lhis sequence of operations rst applies the wrapper on to the charge in such manner as to practically render it air and moisture-proof, especially if the wrapper is formed ot' material having air and moisture-prooi" qualities, the stamp then applied to the wrapper charge in a manner to partially surround it in such way as to prevent opening ot the wrapper without mutilating the stamp, and the container folded about the stamped packet, the opposite stamp end being then secured to an exposed tace of the container. is a result, the stamp is not only exposed and located in such manner as to prevent movement ot the packet outk of the container without mutilation or" the stamp, but the mannery in which the stamp is applied causes it to act as a means 'for retaining the packet in position within the container, the stamp extending across the path of mo\'fement of the tree end of the closing i'iap in such manner as to prevent such end from being introduced into a position between the container tace vand the wrapper. The completion or" the package leaves this closing flap entirely exposed, but folded over to protect that portion ot the stamlJ which is tree trom adhesive connection with either wrapper or container, the closing flap, however, being tree to move so as expose the outer wrapped end and its overlying stamp, so that inspection of the integrity et the package can be had without ailecting the stamp itself. ll'ilhen it is de sired to use the charge, the stamp is ruptured which permits the wrapped charge to freely pass out ot' the container. After the stamp has been ruptured, the closing flap may be passed into closing position between the container tace and the wrappen'thus enabling the package to be placed in a convenient torni for carriage in the pocket.

For purposes et description, the formed and positioned charge is indicated at A, the wrapper at W, the stamp at S, and the container at C.

ln describing the apparatus 'for producing these results, the description, will, as tar as possible, follow this step succession.

As heretofore indicated, the apparatus disclosed is designed to produce the package automatically, the cigarettes being introduced in bulk, the material of the wran-per supplied in the 1form of a roll, and the stamps and container blanks being in pile formation, the stamps and blanks being preferably fed from the bottom oi1 the pile, enabling the piles to be replenished while the machine is in operation.

rlhe various mechanisms are mounted on a suitable frame structure or structures, indi cated generally at 50, the several Ymechanisms being operatively connected to a rotatable shaft 5l, driven in suitable manner, indicated by the tast and loose pulleys 52, the fast pulley being operatively connected to the shaft 5l. 53 indicates a hopper into which the cigarettes are introduced in bulk, the bottom of the hopper having a plurality of vertically extending partitions 54 forming spaces of a width sui'iicient to receive individual cigarettes, these spaces forming passage ways for these segregated cigarettes. fis will be understood, the number of spaces will depend on the number of cigarettes which it .is desired to place in the width of the container. For instance, where the package is adapted to carry ten cigarettes, the arrangement may be sucli as to provide for ten spaces,in which case the cigarettes will be in a single row-or live spaces may be provided and the cigarettes be packaged in the form of two rows of live each. The vertical length ol' the partitions is preferably such as to form passage ways of a vertical length greater than the number of rows of cigarettes in a package, the cigarettes collecting in these passageways, passing out of the passageways in a manner presently described. Y

To aid in segregating the cigarettes from the bulk supply and distributing them into the passage ways or channels referred to, l employ a distributing plate 55 having an opening 55n ot' a length substantially equal to the over-all length of the inlet ends of the channels, this plate 55 having a reciprocating movement in the hopper above the partitions. This reciprocating movement is had through the action of a crank 56EL carried by a vertical shaft 56 connected by gears 56b to shaft 5l, crank 56rb being connected to plate 55 in suitable manner as by a link 56C.

rlhe hopper is located above a carrier which is shown in the form of a'dial 57, the latter being located above a stationary plate '56,.said plate forming the bottom .of a plurality oi? charge-receiving pockets 57;L formed in the dial 57, the portions of these pockets carried by the dial having open tops and bottoms. The pockets spaced apart about the periphery of the dial, the spacing, in the embodiment shown, producing tour pockets, each pocket having partitions corresponding in position to partitions 54, so that when a pocket is located below the channels for the cigarettes, the channels will be practically continuous toY tliebottom of Vof its movements.

the pockets, the pockets having a depth suicient to receive a layer or layers, depending on the number of rows of the cigarettes to be contained in a single package, the cigarettes being supported on the plate 58.l

The cigarettes are preferablygreceived by the dial in one position of the lat-ter and discharged from the dial at a different position of the pocket, a preferred arrangement being to locate the receiving and discharging stations on a line corresponding to a diameter through the dial, the dial making a hall:` revolution between the receiving and delivery stations. Obviously, this may be varied to meet individual conditions, the

arrangement shown being such as to provideY for economy in space, permitting other operating parts to be brought into relatively close relation, thus providing for minimum travel of partsl and a compact arrangement of 'mechanisms The dial, in the embodiment shown, is moved intermittently, being given a quarter revolution when moved. The mechanism tor producing this dial movement is operated from shaft 56, the latter carrying a disk 59 having a flange 59a and a pin 59b adapted to coperate with a complemental member 60 to produce a mechanism of the Geneva stop type, member 60 being mounted on a stud shaft carrying a gear V6l which is adapted to drive a gear 62 on dial shaft 57 through an intermediate gear 63. By this arrangement each revolution of disk 59 operates member 60 to advance the dial a quarter revolution, this action taking place while pin'59b is in engagement with member 60, the latter being held stationary by the flange 59a during the remainder of y,the disk revolution. Consequently, 'the dial will dwell for a predetermined period after each The cigarettes' are received into that pocket below the hopper at the time of dwell, and at the same time, the cigarettes in the diametrically opposite pocket will be discharged from the pocket, plate 58 being so arranged as to eliminate its cigarette-supporting relation to the pocket which is located in discharging position. 4

Y Positioned below the plane of plate 58 be low the point of discharge of cigarettes is ,Y

a yieldable plate- 64 which normally forms a supplemental bottom to the pocket when the pocket is in discharging position. Plate 6a is carried by a pin 64a,the lower end of which is provided with a member 65 adapted to coperate with a stop member 65aL carried by the frame of the machine, members 65 and 65a cooperating to limit the upward travel oi' plate 64. Pin 64 also carries a spring 66 which is interposed between plate 6ft and an arm 67 carried by a vertically reciprocating rod 68, the movements of said rod being controlled by a caniy 69 mounted on shaft 51, a spring 67a, connecting arm 67 and the machine frame acting to retain operative contact between rod 68 and cam 69, the latter being arranged to cause the rod to reciprocate vertically.

70 indicates an arm carried by rod 68 above the plane of dial 57, said arm carrying` a depending member 71 adapted to act as a plunger for moving the cigarettes out of the dial pocket, said member having a configuration adapted to produce this result. In addition, member 71 carries a pair of depending pins 71a having a length eX- tending below the lowerplane of the plunger, the dial having additional `openings through which pins 71a may pass into contact with plate 64.

Cam 69 is so formed and timed that during the period when cigarettes are not being discharged from the dial pocket, plate 64 is in position to form the bottom of a pocket, while plunger 71 is located above the plane of the dial, the result being that the dial is free to move to shift the pockets. lVhen the pocket is brought to proper position by the dial actuating mechanism, cam 69 permits rod 68 to move downwardly under the action of spring 67 a, this movement of the rod carrying arms 67 and 70 downwardlyrom the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 7, this movement bringing pins 71a into contact with plate' 64, and the arm 67 downwardly into contact with member 65 (arm 67 being normally positioned above member 65), thereby placing an increase of tension on spring 66. This downward movement of the plunger has also brought its remaining fingers into contact with the cigarettes and caused the latter to pass downward on to plate 64 as `shown in Fig. 7, plate 64 remaining in position due to the tension of spring 66. Further downward movement of rod 68 causes arm 67 to move member 65 out of contact with stop member 65a, thus lowering plate 64 through this action and by the action of pins 71a which are in Contact with the upper face of plate 64 at this time, the result being that when these parts reach the position shown in Fig. 8, the cigarettes will have passed entirely from the dial and will have been brought into closer relationship with each other by the action of a pair of inclined faces 72 between which the outer` cigarettes are carried during this discharging operation. As will be understood, no undue pressure will be placed on the cigarettes during this discharging operation for the reason that pinsV 71a produce a fixeddistance between plate 64 and the lower ends ofthe plunger lingers; in addition, the downward movement of rod 68 is provided by a spring, thus making the movement such as to'minimize the tendency to; damage cigarettes by reason of this discharging action. As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, this places the cigarettes in charge from below the dial and plate 58 ready for the beginning of the packaging operation.

This particular vform of mechanism is especially adapted for forming charges of cigarettes or other articles such as pencils, crayons, etc. lll/'here the charge is of solid material, asV Jfor instance a plug of tobacco, this mechanism may be greatly simplified by omitting `the partitions of the pockets and dispensing or simplifying the discharging mechanisms shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it being possible to discharge a solid charge on to a supporting member located in the plane of plate 64in Fig. 8 either by gravity or by the use of a simple plunger; obviously, an ordinary magazine could be employed in place of the particular hopper; structure shown in the drawings.

With the support-ing plate 64 in the position shown in Fig. 8 and with the charge on such plate, the charge is positioned in the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger 73 which is adapted to advance the charge,

indicated generally at A, into contact with a wrapper blank WV supported in a vertically extending chute 74, the advance of the charge withdrawing the wrapper blank from said chute and carrying it into a folding channel 75, said channel having upper and lower walls adapted to fold the wrapper into contact with the top and bottom faces of the charge. The channel also carries side plates 75:L which act to turn in end portions to produce a partially wrapped packet approximately as shown in Fig. 18.

At the outer end' of channel 75 is mounted a vertically reciprocating carrier 76 `also having a channel and side plates 76a, this tially wrapped charge as it emerges from vchannel 75, carrier 76 being at its upper extreme of movement at this time. rlhe movement of plunger 7 3 is such that while the charge andthat portion of the wrapper in advance of the rear plane of the charge is positioned within the channel of carrier 76, the rearwardly projecting portion of the wrapper remains within channel 75 until withdrawn therefrom by the downward movement of carrier 76, this downward movement acting to fold the rearwardly projecting portion of the wrapper against the rear face of the charge, as shown in Fig. 19. The movement of carrier 76 downwardly to the opposite extreme of its movement brings the charge opposite the entrance to a folding channel 77 and in the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger'` 78 which operates on a plane parallel to and below that of the plane of plunger 73.

While the channel of carrier 76 is provided with upper and lower faces and with side plates similar to channel 5, po add- 105 carrier being adapted to receive the partional folding action is provided by such arrangement, the purpose being to maintain the folds previously made as well as to maintain the cigarettes in proper charge formation while being transferred from the I upper to the lower planes.

takes place, the folding of the packet having progressed to the position shown in Fig. 19, the initial movement of the packet into channel 77 causes the upwardly extending wall of the wrapper to be turned on to the outer face of the charge, as 'in Fig. 20. As channel 77 carries Vside plates for folding in the ends, and grooves for successively folding the upper and lower iiaps as the package is advanced, the advance movement of the packet under the action of plunger 78 produces the successive operations shown in Figs. 21 to 23, thus completing the wrapping of the charge and placing the wrapped charge opposite the entrance to a channel 108 extending horizontally at right angles to channel 77. vThe folding plates and grooves of channel 77 are of usual arrangement and are not specifically described,

Plungers 73 and 78 may, of course, be operated in any suitable manner. However, I prefer, to provide proper timing action, to operate these plungers (together with an additional plunger presently referred to) from a single mechanism which, in the present instance, is in the form of a cam80,

shown diagrammatically in detail in Fig.

13, this figure indicating a cam groove ar-Y rangement which produces alternate periods of activity and dwell in the movement of a: reciprocating arm 81 carrying a roll 81 operative in the camvgroove, the arm being connected to a crank 82 mounted on a shaft 83, said shaft carrying an arm 84 which is operatively connected toa pivoted lever 85 the upper end of which is connected to plunger 78 by means of a link`86.

Cam 80 is mounted on shaft 87 extending at right angles to shaft 51, these shafts being operatively connected by bevel gears 88, this arrangement causing continuous rotation of cam 80, the cam groove causing arm 81 to rock shaft 83, .which movement, through theV slide connection between lever 85 and arm 84 oscillates -lever 85 and produces the reciprocating movementof plunger 78, the latter, together with plunger 73, being mounted in suitable guides. Plunger 73, is operated from lever 85 through link connections 89, pivoted lever 85 and link 86a, thus causing both plungers 7 3 and 78 to move at the same time but in opposite directions. As the length of movement of plunger 73 is greater than that of plunger 78, link connection 89 is so arranged as to provide the kproper throw of the two levers 85 and 85, the latter obviously traveling at a greater speed than lever 85.

As shown in Fig.A 5, plunger 78, in advancing the packet through channel 77, extends through the channel of carrier 76, remaining in such channel until the plunger is again withdrawn, this latter action, duc to thepositive connection between leversv 85 and 85, taking place concurrently with the advance of plunger 73. However, the part-s are so arranged that plunger 78 passes out of carrier 76 before plunger 73 has advanced the packet to. the outer end of channel 75, a sufficient length of time elapsing to per# mit carrier 7,6 to move to its upper position where it will receive the advancing packet. The movements of carrier 76 are provided by a cam 90 mounted on shaftl87, a vertically extending member 91, slidable in bearing 91, supporting the carrier and being operated by cam 90.

Any suitable form'of wrapper supply may be employed for feeding and positioning the wrapperin chute 74. For instance, the wrappers may be previously cut and fed to position by suitable feeding mechanism. However, l prefer to supply the wrappers from' Aa web having a width equal to the width of the wrapper, the web being cut into y proper lengths by operating mechanism on the machine. V@ne form of mechanism for producing this result will now be described.

92 indicates a pair of -rolls mounted at a suitable point above chute 74, these rolls acting to feedthe webfrom a web supply indicated as in the form of roll 93 removably mounted in brackets 94, the web passing between. rol s. 92 and downwardly Ainto chute 74, a stop 74L limiting the downward travel the'web. rFhe web'feeding action is had by driving one of the rolls 92 positively, and

as the wrapper blank, when positioned in chute l74, extends across the path of travel ofplunger 73, this feed movement of the web must take place at such time when the plunger 73 is in its rear position; hence the mechanism for driving the rolls 92 operates intermittently, this intermittent movement also ten ding to prevent more or less buckling of the web when being fed into contact with stop 74a.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the shaft of the driven roll 92 carries a sprocket wheel 95' Voperatively. connected with la sprocket wheel 96 on a shaft 97, said latter shaft carrying a mutilated gear 98 which vcoperates with-a complemental gear 99 mounted on shaftlOO. yShaft 100 is geared to a vertical shaft 101, said latter shaft having a gear connection with a shaft 102 having a gear connection with shaft 51, these latter gear connections being of suitable type, as for instance spiral gears.

By this arrangement, mutilated gear 99 will be driven constantly from shaft 51 through the drive connections indicated.`

Owing, however, to the form of gears 98 and 99, gear 98 will be given one revolution during a portion of the revolution of gear 99, gear 98 remaining stationary during the remainder of the revolution of gear 99. The gear relation is so arranged that feeding of the web will take place while plunger 73 is in rear of the plane of chute 711, and the feed movement will be sufficient to carry the required amount of web into the chute.

To sever the web to form the individual wrapper, I employ a cutting mechanism in the form of a stationary knife blade 103 and a movable knife blade 104, the latter being movable across the path of travel of the web. Knife blade 1041 is reciprocated intermittently by means of a cam 105 mounted on shaft 57", the configuration of this cam being shown more particularly in Fig. 1. Cam 105 is adapted to operate an arm 106 to which the support for blade 104C is attached, the arm carrying a roller adapted to contact with the edge of the cam. As shown more particularly in Fig. 1, arm 106 straddles shaft 57h, forming a guide to limit the the movement of the arm to a single plane, the arm roller being held in contact with the cam by suitable springs 106EL mounted between a stationary member 107 and the heads of pins 106b connected to the arm, the advance movement of the arm under the action of theV cam being against and increasing the tension of springs 106:1, the latter retracting the arm when the configuration of the cam permits. Since cam 105 operates intermittently, moving with dial 75, it will be understood that an accurately timed cutting operation may be provided. Obviously, advance of blade 104 will sever the web, thus producing a wrapping blank of proper length, the blank being supported in a vertical plane within the chute and properly registered with the travel path of the charge by reason of contact of the lower end of the wrapper with stop 74a. The cutting operation takes place while the web is stationary, and the succeeding feed of the web takes place only after the severed wrapper has been carried out of the chute and plunger 73 has returned.

As heretofore indicated, completion of the advance movement of plunger 78 places the wrapped charge in alinement with the entra-nce of a third channel which extends at right angles to channel 75. This channel is indicated at 108. The wrapped package is advanced in this channel by a third plunger 109 which has its path of travel in a direction at right angles to the direction of travel of plungers 78 and v78, the path of Inovements of plungers 78 and 109 being on the same horiacntal plane, the extreme of advance movement ef plunger 7 8, however, bcing insuflicient to cause it to intersect the path of travel of plunger 109.

The movements of plunger 109 may be provided in any desired manner, but 1 prefer to operatively connect this plunger to the mechanism for operating plungers 73 and 78, thus placing the control of the movements of these plungers 0n a single element, viz: cam 80. @ne way of obtaining this result is by operatively connecting shaft 88 to a shaft 110 by bevel gears, shaft 110 carrying an arm 111 having a slidable connection with a lever 85b connected with plunger 109 by link 86h, the gear ratio being arranged to provide the desired length of movement of plunger 109 during the oscillating movements of shaft 88.

By this arrangement of operating mechanisms, plungers 73 and 109 have their advance movements concurrently and during the period when plunger 78 is moving rearwardly, the advance movement of plunger 78 taking place when plungers 78 and 109 are returning to their outer positions. Consequently, at the time when plunger 78 begins this advance movement with the` new charge, plunger 109 begins its advance movement on the previous charge which has been wrapped in` passing through channels 7 5 and 77, the result being that the capacity of the machine is controlled practically by the length of time required to initially wrap the charge, packaging operations taking place during the wrapping of the succeeding charge.

is will be understood, the wrapping operation has been provided in such manner that when the wrapped charge is presented to channel 108, one of the ends of the packet will be presented as the advance end, the wrapper at such end having the folded end flap shown in Fig. 28, plunger 109 operating in rear of the opposite end flaps. Adi/'ance of plunger 109 carries this advance end of the packet into contact with a stamp positioned in a chute 112 with a portion of the stamp exposed to the advancing packet. The stamp, indicated at S, is fed into position by suitable means, the stamp being preferably positioned in such manner as to produce the approximate relationship between the stamp and the wrapped packet shown in Fig. 24, the stamp having its rear face more or less tacky at the time when Contact is made so that the stamp will adhere to the packet. As the packet advances after such contact, it is carried between upper and lower faces of channel 108, this advance movement withdrawing the stamp from the chute and at the same time folding the upper end of the stamp on to the top of the packet in overlying relation to the joint formed by the opposite ends of the wrapper at the top of the packet, the lower projecting portion of the stamp being drawn over the under face of the packet, the excess length y of the stamp trailing beyond the rear of the packet.

Further advance of the plunger bringsthe advance end of the packet-with the stamp superposed thereupon-*into contact with a container blank C positioned in a chute 113, the advance end of the packet contacting with that portion of blank C which forms the bottom of the completed container, as shown in Fig. 25, which figure also discloses a preferred configuration of blank C. Blanl-:s C are positioned in the chute by suitable mechanism, the mechanisms for feeding the blank and the stamp being adapted to deliver them subsequent to the withdrawal of plunger 109 and before the succeeding advance movement of the plunger, the feed mechanisms being operatively connected to moving parts of the apparatus to provide the proper timed operation.

As plunger 109 continues its advance travel, blank C is withdrawn from its chute, passing between upper and lower face of channel 108 which fold opposite sides of the blank on to the packet, this being followed by bringing the uppermost side flaps into contact with a pair of adhesive-applying rolls 114 which act to place a stripe of adhesive on the upper face of these liaps and at the same time inturn the flaps to a more or less extent, such for instance, as shown in Figs. 10 and 26, the inturning of these flaps bringing Vthe striped faces outermost. Further advance of plunger 109 then brings the advancing partially-packaged packet into contact with a pair of rolls 115 which act to turn up the lower flaps, the inner faces Vof which contact with the striped faces of the upper flaps, thus adhesively connecting the opposite flaps together and bringing the package into the form shown in Fig. 27, the container being partially formed, the end laps, the closing flap, and the stamp projecting in rear of the wrapped packet which is now partially enveloped by the container. The package, in this form is advanced until positioned over a well 116, this positioning` action completing the work to be performed by plunger 109, saidL plunger being in the e);- trenie of its advance movement when the package is thus positioned. At this time, the end laps and closing nap of the container and the trailing portion of the stamp, still remain in channel 108. l

After plunger 109y begins its withdrawal movement, leaving the package in position over the well, a pair of'ngers 117 are rendered operative to turn in the end laps,

placing lthe package in the form shown in Fig. 28. AThis inturning action is provided by the movements of a pair of bell crank levers 117 which are' operatively connected to fingers 117, said'levers' 117 being connected to a pivoted lever 118 by link connection 118, the movements of lever 118 being controlled by Va cam 119 mounted on a vertical shaft 120 geared to shaft 102. After the end laps have been turned in, the package is moved downwardly within the well a distance equal to the thickness of the package, this movement-causing the closing flap of the container-and the trailing portion ofthe stamp to be'turned up against the end yof the package, producing an arrangement such as shown in Fig. 29, a portion of the closing .flap and the stamp projecting above the top plane of the container which, at this time, is located substantially .on a plane corresponding to the bottom plane of the succeeding package, the advance of which to its position over the well, folds the portions'of the stamp and closing flap previously projecting above the top planeof the container on to the upper face of the container, thus bringing the proeoting portion of the stamp into a position to be adhesively connected to the container face, and the closing flap in overlying relation to the stamp and such face, the pressure on the upper face as the container travels through the well, causing this adhesive connection to be provided.v

The initial downward movement of the container'into .the wellis provided by a plunger 121 carried by an arm 122 mounted on vertically reciprocating member 123, the latter being operatively connected to a pivoted lever 124ethemovements of which are controlledV by a cam 125 mounted on shaft 51.

r1`he well is of suitable construction, one form being provided by the use of endless bands 126 to form two opposing'walls of theA well, the remaining` walls being provided by plates. rllhe bands are preferably of the spring coil type under more or less tension, such structure tending tov maintain the wall configuration and at the same time provide a structure which will prevent free downward travel of the packages within the well, it being preferred that the downward movement of the packages be provided entirely by the movement of plunger 121, thus not only providing pressure tending to vproduce the adhesive connection of stamp and container, but also to position one container in such manner as to properly register the projecting closing. flap and stamp with the succeeding advancing package. Y I v Any suitable adhesive-applying mechanism may bev employed, that shown being in the form of a container 114ai forming the ,n 0

adhesive supply, rolls 114 extending into this supply. If desired, rolls 114 may be operatively connected to shaft 12() to permit of roller movement to properly apply the adhesive and inturn the flaps.

As heretofore pointed out, any suitable feed mechanisms for the stamp and for the container "blank may be employed. For purposes of illustration, however, I have shown, more or lessv diagrammatic, preferred forms of mechanism for this purpose, these mechanisms being more particularly shown and described in companion applications. The mechanisms for feeding the stamp and the container blank differ in, some respects from each other, Vdue somewhat to the character of the materials fed and the specific requirements. F or instance, the stamp is of comparatively thin flexible paper and is to be adhesively connected to the wrapped packet. Since the stamp may be either of a form carrying the adhesive which must be moistened prior to application of the packet, or receive an adhesive coating or striping while passing to its applying position, means must be provided for producing` the more or less tacky face to the stamp prior to entry into its receiving` chute. On the contrary, the container blank is of heavier weight and requires no preliminary application of adhesive. In either mechanism, however, it is desirable that the stamp or container blank, as the case may be, be positioned vertically and be unfolded and free from material bending. In addition, the particular formation of the container blank is such that a slightly different manipulation should be had in order to insure for proper feed.

In Fig. 14 I have shown a mechanism which is adapted to provide the stamp feedoperation, this view showing a supporting table 127 for a pile of stamps, with a reciprocating feeding element 128'mounted to operate practically in the top plane of the table, this element having a pair of rolls 129 carrying endless bands, the rolls beingr snpported on a carriage 130, the carriage being movable in suitable guides by means of a link 131 carried by a crank wheel 132 mounted on a shaft 133. Shaft 133 may be operatively connected to vertical shaft 101 by bevel gears, thus providing for rotation of shaft Rolls 129 are free to rotate in one direction and held against rotation in the opposite direction by suitable means such as a pawl and ratchet, the parts being arranged that the rolls and the upper flight of the bands are in contact with the lowerniost stamp, and during the advancing movement of the carriage, the rolls are held against rotation, the result being that the rolls andband or bands frictionally engage the lowerinost stamp and advance it; during the return movement of the carriage, the

rolls will rotate so that no frictional engagement with the stamp is provided, permitting the carriage to return to its rear position and again advance to feed the neXt stamp. Since it is preferable that the stamps lie in a horizontal plane when in pile form and the stamp be delivered into chute 112 in a vertical direction, I have provided a transfer structure which changes the direction of travel of the stamp from horizontal to vertical, this structure being in the form of a pair of rolls 134 to which the stamp is delivered by the advancing carriage and which rolls in turn deliver the stamp to a vertical band-formed flight which carries the stamp past an adhesive-applying device 135, the stamp being delivered into chute 112 with its rear face coated. In order to avoid confusion, I have omitted, in Fig. 1, this stamp feeding mechanism, but I have indicated this position by dotted outlines indicated at SF., it being readily understood that this feeding mechanism may be supported on brackets carried by the frame at a suitable point above the plane of the folding channels.

The feeding mechanism foi` the container blank omits the vertical band-formed flight, rolls 134 receiving the blank and delivering the blank to the upper end of chute 113 which is preferably provided with a curved face adapted to shift the direction of travel of the blank to the vertical, rolls 134 thus delivering the blank directly to the chute instead of indirectly as in the stamp feeding mechanism.

' Due to the large size of the container blank and the presence of cut-away portions in the length of the blank, I preferably vary the mechanism to meet these conditions, Figs. 15 and 16 showing a simple form of mechanism which may be employed as an auxiliary to the carriage of the stamp mechanism, it being understood, of course, that the width of the blank-engaging portions of the carriage will preferably be increased over the width employed in connection with the stamp feed. In this particular form, I preferably arrange the pile of blanks sufficiently to one side of the path of travel of the blank being fed in order that the projecting flaps of the lower blank will be out of vertical alinement with the flaps of the blank above it, so that there is practically no liability of the feed of the blank being obstructed by a flap of the lower blank being caught by the flap of the superposed blank. rfherefore, to properly feed the blank, the lower-most blank must be shifted laterally of the pile into proper position above the frictional surfaces of the carriage. This action is produced by a slidable plate 136 positioned on the table to move in a direction at right angles to the direction of travel of the carriage, this plate having a suliicient projection above the table surface so as to move rearward movement of the carriage causing` the link connections to advance plate 136 at the proper time, the forward movement of the carriage withdrawing the platetoy a position Where it Will engage the succeeding blank when the plate is again advanced.

For reasons above pointed out, Ihave omitted the specific structure of the blank feeding mechanism in Fig. 1, but have indicated its position by the. dotted line repre.

sentationvBF. Shaft 133 of the blank mechanism may be operatively connected tovertical shaft 120, theffeeding mechanism being supported by suitable brackets above channel 108.

As heretofore pointed out, the embodiment of the invention shown is designed more particularly for the packaging of cigarettes or other articles into package form, these articles being first arranged in the form of charges and then subjected rto the wrapping and succeeding operations.4 Obviously, the mechanisms may be readily arranged to provide asimilar result Where the commodity is more Aor less solid, as for instance plug. tobacco, a commodity inwhich the several articles are substantially equal` in size and hence are adapted to-be individually Wrapped inthe manner herein disclosed.'

Obviously, the charge-forming mechanism may be of any preferred type, that shovvn in the drawings being, a simplefway in which to produce a chargevof this particular character Without subjecting the individual cigarettes to an action which would tend to damage them. lt will, of course, be understood that so far as the actual packaging of the charge is concerned, the charge might be preformed and held in charge form in any suitable manner and delivered into the space in advance of plunger 73. This space may be considered as the receiving station for the charge or commodity to be Wrapped, While the structure at the inner end of ychannel 77 into or on which4 the VWrapped.charge orV understood that this complete combination may be-varied. For instance, the packaging of the Wrapped charge is dependent upon the supplying of thestamps and the container blanks in the path of travel of the packet. If the supply of either be omitted, the apparatus Will operate to deliver the Wrapped packet in its Wrapped form or with a stamp thereon, or With the container positioned thereon Without stamp, depending on Which element isomitted. Obviously, therefore, oneor more of the mechanisms may-be entirely omitted to meet the exi-l gencies ofsa desired use in so far as such omission may-be'permitted bythe scope of the accompanyingl claims When'broadly construed.. And. obviously, the Aindividual mechanisms 'may be varied to meet the individual needs of the packaging operation Without departing,v from the spirit and scope of the invention in so far as permitted by such claims.

The invention is not limited to the complete formationof packages of the particular type indicated. For instance, the mechanismfemployed in'vvrapping the charge may be employed .in connection YWith other forms of mechanism for vproducing` a different type ofA package, the advance movement of plunger 78 placing-the Wrapped package in a position'where it may be acted upon by other mechanisms for. completing the packaging operationin a different manner. Y

While-I lhave described the mechanism as adapted'to'apply a revenue stamp, it Will bev obvious that a strip or label may be applied iny placevof the stamp Where the package is of a form not requiring such stamp, and the term stamp7 isintended as .synonymous With and including such strip or label structures.

Having thus. described my invention, what I claimas new, is 1 l Inpackagingmachines, Wrapping mechanism :havinggcharge-.receiving and Wrappedpacket delivery stations and operative to yvrap the' article or charge While advancing fromthe.charge-receiving to the packet delivery station, means .for advancing the packet from said latter station in a predetermined path, means for positioning a stamp and a container blank at successive Vpoints in such path, and means for applying the stampto the vpacket and for folding the container blank to inclose the packet and its applied stamp during travel in such path.

2; In packaging machines, Wrapping mechanism having charge-receivingand Wrappedico lll)

packet delivery stations and operative to Wrapl the article or charge While advancing from the charge-receiving to the packetde- Y Y livery statiom. means for advancing the packet from said latter station in a prede-f termined path, means for positioning a stamp and a container blank at successive isa points .in such path, means for applying` the stamp to the packet with a projecting stamp end and for folding the container blank to inclose the packet and its applied stamp during travel in such path, and means for applying the projecting stamp end to an exterior face ot the container.

3. ln packaging machines, Wrapping mechanism having charge-receiving and Wrappedpacket delivery stations and. operative to Wrap an article or charge While advancing trom the charge-receiving to the packet delivery station, means for positioning the article or charge in the charge-receiving station, means for advancing the Wrapped packet from the packet deliver f station in a prec etermined path,'means for supporting` a stamp and a container blank in such path, and means for inclosing, the packet Within the container with the stamp applied to the packet and container' during packet 'travel in such path.

fr. ln packagingmachines, Wrapping mechanism having charge-receiving and Wrappedpacket delivery stations positioned in parallel planes, said mechanism also having` wrapping channels in both planes, means for advancing the charge and Wrapper blank through such channels to completely Wrap and deliver the Wrapped packet in the packet delivery station, means for advancing the packet from said latter station in a predetermined path, and means for inclosing the packet in a container and for applying a stamp to the packet and container during` travel in such path.

5. ln packaging machines, Wrapping mechanism having; charge-receiving and Wrappedpacket delivery stations positioned in parallel planes, said mechanism also having; Wrapping` channels in both planes, means for advancing the charge rand Wrapper blank through such channels to completely Wrap and deliver the Wrapped packet in the packet delivery station, means for advancing1 the packet from said latter station in a predetermined path, and means for inclosing the packet in a container and ior applying a stamp to the packet and container during travel in such path, said stations and Wrapping channels being' relatively positioned to permit advance oli' one charge from the charge-receiving station concurrently with movements of the preceding Wrapped packet in its container. inclosing` path,

6. ln a Wrapping machine, means tor conveyinn` an assembled charge and Wrapper along` a predetermined path, and stationary elements adjacent said path for toldinry the Wrapper about tour consecutive faces or the charge, folding' projecting `marginal Wrapper portions against the remaining` charge laces to produce Wins flaps, and folding said Wing flaps lativise against said remaining laces ot the charge.

7. ln a Wrapping machine, a plurality ot channels, means for conveyingan assembled charge and Wrapper through the lirst channel, means for conveying' the assembly from the channel to the second channel, means tor conveying` the assembly through the second channel, and means torming a part ot said channels operative on the assembly between the entrance to the iirst channel and the enit from the second channel for folding` the Wrapper tlatwise against all the laces ci the package.

8. ln a Wrapping machine, a pluralityvof channels, means tor conveying` an assembled charge and Wrapper through the lirst channel, means for conveying` the assembly from the tiret channel to the second channel,

means for conveyingl the assembly through.

the second channel, and stationary means operative on the assembly between the entrance 'to the first channel and the enit trom the second channel tor leiding` the Wrapper l'latwise against all the laces ot the charge.

9. ln a Wrapping machine, a plurality of parallel channels, means for conveying an assembled charge and Wrapper through. the first channel, means for conveying',` the assembly from the lirst channel to the second channel, means :tor coin/'eying` the assembly through tee second channel, and means operative on the assembly between the entrance to the first. channel and the exit from the second channel for folding` the Wrapper ilat- Wise grainst all the faces of the package.

l0, ln a Wrapping machine, a plurality or" parallel superposcd channels, means Jfor conveyinp,` assembled charge and Wrapper through the irst channel, means tor conveyim;` the assembly trom the first channel to the second channel, means tor conveying the assembly through the second channel, and means operative on the assembly between the entrance to the first channel and the exit :trom trie second channel for folding the Wrapper lativise against all the faces of the paci-rage.

ll. ln a Wrapping machine, a plurality of parallel channels, means for conveying an assembled charge and Wrapper through lthe lirstchannel in one direction, means tor conveying the assembly trom the lirst channel to the second channel, means tor conveyingthe assembly in the ogposite direction through the second channel, and means operative on the assembly between the entrance to the channel and the enit 'from the secon-d channel 'tor folding the Wrapper 'flat- Wise against all the laces oi? the package.

ln a Wrapping` machine, a plurality of parallel channels, plunger means 'for conveyinnv an mbled pacmge and` Wrapper throng' nrst channel in one direction,

-l il eil@ means 'for conveying the assembly from the iirst'channel to the second channel, plunger means for conveying the assembly in the opposite direction through the second channel, and means operative on the assembly between the entrance to the first channel and the exit from the second channel for folding the wrapper flatwise against all the faces of the package.

13.4 In a wrapping machine, a plurality of channels, means for conveying an assembled charge and wrapper through the first channel, a reciprocated carrier adapted to receive the assembly from the first channel and shift it into operative relation to the second channel, and means for conveying the assembly through the second channel and means operative on the assembly between the entrance to the'nrst channel and the exit from the second channel for folding the wrapper flatwise against all faces of the charge.

14;. In machines for wrapping packages, a receiving station for the charge to be wrapped and from which the charge is advanced, a wrapper blank station, a delivery station for the wrapped packet, wrap sing mechanism intermediate the wrapper blank station and the packet deliverystation, and means for successively advancing the charge into contact with the wrapper blank and through the wrapping mechanism; said wrapping mechanism including` a pair of folding channels for combinedly folding the wrapper to provide overlapping wrapper ends on one face of the packet, infolding of the end flaps of said wrapper ends being provided in one of said channels.

15. In machines for wrapping packages, a receiving station for the charge to be wrapped and from which the charge is advanced, a wrapper blank station, a delivery station for the wrapped packet, wrapping mechanism intermediate the wrapper blank station and the packet delivery station, and means for successively advancing the charge into contact with the wrapper blank and through the wrapping` mechanism, said means including a pair of reciprocating plungers operatively connected to move in unison, arotatable shaft, and mechanism operatively connecting said shaft and one of said plungers for reciprocating` the latter.

16. In machines for wrapping packages, a receiving station for the charge to be wrapped and from which the charge is advanced, a wrapper blank station, a delivery station for the wrapped packet, wrapping mechanism intermediate the *rapper blank station and the packet delivery station, and means for success'vely advancing the charge into contact with the wrapper blank and through the wrapping mechanism, said means including a pair of reciprocating plungers operatively connected to move in unison, a rotatable shaft, and mechanism operatively connecting said shaft and one of said plungers forreciprocating the latter, said latter mechanism including a cam on said shaft, a rock shaft, operative connec-v tions between the cam and rock shaft to oscillate the latter, andV operative connections between the rock shaft and the plunger.

17. In machines for Wrapping packages, aV receiving station for the charge to be Wrapped and from which the charge is advanced, a wrapper blank-station, a delivery station for the wrapped packet, wrapping mechanismv intermediate the wrapper blank station and the packet delivery station, and means for successively advancing the charge into contact with the wrapper blank and through the wrapping mechanism, said means including a pair of reciprocating plungers movable in unison and having their advancing movements in opposite directions, mechanism for'operating one of said plungers, and operative connections between said plungers to cause movements of the other4 plunger, said connections causing one plunger to have a length of reciprocation less than that of the other plunger.

18.. In machines for wrapping packages, a receiving station for the charge to be wrapped and from which the charge is advanced, a wrapper blank station, a delivery station for the Wrapped packet, wrapping mechanism intermediate the wrapper blank station and the packet delivery station, and means for successively advancing the charge into contact with the Wrapper blank and through the wrapping mechanism, said wrapping mechanism including a pair of channels extending in substantially parallel planes and being operative successively to fold wrapper portions over theA top, bottom and end faces of thepacket and folders located at the sides of the channels for folding other Wrapper portions overk the side faces of the packet.

19. In machines for Wrapping packages, a receiving station for the charge to be wrapped'and from which the charge is advanced, awrapper blankstation, aV deliverxl station for the wrapped packet, wrapping mechanism intermediate the wrapper blank station and the packet deliverystation, and means for successively advancingthe charge into contact with the wrapper blank and through the Wrapping mechanism, said wrapping mechanism including a pair of channels extending` in substantially parallel planes and being operative successively to fold wrapper portions over the top, bottom and end faces of the packet and folders located at the sides of the channels for folding other wrapper portions over the side faces of the packet, and means for `shifting the packet from the plane of one channel to that of the'other, said advancing means being operative from opposite sides of the shifting means.

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