US1824390A - Duplex wrapping machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 22, 1931. w. B. BRONANDER DUPLEX WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 15 1 5 6 shee,hs sheet l INVENTOR n BY m ATTORNEY 1925 6 Sheets-Shea t IVA:

h 3 Qfilw ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1931'. w. B. BRONANDER DUPLEX WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 15 P 1.931. W. B. BRONANDER 1,824,390

DUPLEX WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 15 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR may gf My??? ATTORNEY P 1931. w. BRONANDER 1,824,390

DUPLEX WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 15 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 56 5) .9770 5,2

INVENTOR Sept. 1931. w. B. BRONANDER 1,824,390

DUPLEX WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 15. 1925 6 sh t -sheet 5 P 1931- I w. B. BRONANDER 1,824,390

DUPLEX WRAPPING MACHINE Original Filed April 15 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILHELM B. BBONANDEB, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY DUPLEX WRAPPING MACHINE Application filed April 15, 1925, Serial 1W0. 23,842. Renewed AuguIt 18, 1980.

This invention relates to an improvement in wrapping machines, particularly those employed for wrapping packages of cigarettes or other small articles.

One of the objects of the invention is the production of a machine in which greatly increased output at greatly decreased .production cost is made possible by new and greatly simplified elemental construction and combination and by reduction to a minimum of the speed-limiting effects of elemental inertia. Another object is the production of a duplex machine of this general character in which two series of like sequential operations are performed simultaneously in order to obtain high output from relatively low machine-speed, and by this means still further increase output and decrease operation cost, without increasing machine wear and tear. Another object is the improvement of elemental features of such machines. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention but with certain parts broken away to show other parts; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. with certain parts omitted in the interest of clearness; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively side elevation and plan views of the various drives of the structures shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4; and Figs. 7 to 21 inclusive are detial views sequentially illustrating the progress of packages through the machine,,and the operations performed on them in transit.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided a device for continuously pulling a taut strip of flexible material, such as paper, from a sultable source of supply, as

a reel upon which the strip is wound, to avoid the speed-limiting effect of inertia of the reel of paper when pa er is intermittently drawn therefrom. here is further provlded mechanism for producing a to and re movement of the strip-pulling device to alternately advance and stop the leading end of said strip to alternately place it in position to be assembled with the package, and to permit the severance of sections from said strip to form individual wrappers for individual packages, without, however interruptmg the continuous operation of the strip-pulling device. In the best constructions contemplated, there is further rovided means for severing individual sections from the strip while the leading end of the same is at rest, means for assembling a severed section and a package, means for wrapping the section around the package, means for applying adhesive to the edges of the section, means for sealing the wrapped package, all of said means being dual means, and rotary individual prime movers for the several dual means whereby the speed-limiting effect of elemental inertia is minimized. These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the invention, for the particular machine selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

The machine selected to illustrate the invention is a high-speed duplex wrapping machine in which two streams of packages are simultaneously wrapped, and in which speed-limiting abrupt movements of various parts of the machine are avoided by the utilization of eccentrics and cranks as individual prime movers instead of the customary cams, so that machine speed may be doubled and output quadrupled, as compared with machines heretofore in commercial use, without lessening machine durability.

Referring to the drawings, 22 indicates the bed of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. This bed is supthe various parts of the machine, there is provided a ower shaft ournaled in suitable bearings in the legs 23, 24. This shaft is driven by means of a clutch mechanism .26 of well known type, whlch, as shown, is driven by means of a belt 27 by an electric motor 28 mounted on a bracket 29 secured to the leg 23, although the clutch mechanism 26 may be otherwise driven if desired. The clutch mechanism is op. erated by means of a shifter 30, the latter being connected-by means of a. link 31 to an arm 32 fast on a shaft 33 extending along the machine and carrying at each end an operating handle 34. The shaft .25 is provided with a pinion 35 which meshes with and drives a gear 36 fast on a short shaft 37 journaled 1n the leg 23 and in a rted by legs 23, 24. For the purpose of iving bracket 38 depending from the bed 22 before referred to. The shaft 37 carries at its inner end a crank 39, carrying at its end a roller 40. This crank constitutes the rotary individual prime mover of one of the elemental organizations of the machine. The pinion 35 also meshes with and drives a gear 41 fast on and driving a shaft 42 journaled in suitable bearings in the legs 23, 24, The shaft 42 is provided with an eccentric 43 which constitutes the rotary individual rime mover of another elemental organizatlon of the machine. Similarly, the shaft '42 carries a second eccentric 44 which constitutes the rotary individual prime mover of still another elemental organization of the machine. The shaft 42 also carries a sprocket 45 which constitutes the rotary indlvidual prime mover of still another elemental organization of the machine. Each of these rotary individual prime movers is used instead of a cam for the urpose of minimizing the speed-limiting e ect of inertia of the parts controlled thereby, so that machine speed and capacity may be increased, and smoother operation obtained, with decreased machine wear and tear.

The machine selected to illustrate the invention was particularly designed for wraping packages of cigarettes and as hereinfore stated, it is a duplex machine in which two streams of packages are simultaneously wrapped. The paper used for wrapping the packages is in strip form wound on reels, two of such reels 46 being loosely mounted on a bar 47 supported by a bracket 48, which in turn is supported by standards 49 rising from the bed 22 before referred to, one on either side of the machine. For the purpose of avoiding the speed-limiting inertia effect of these reels of paper, there is provided a dual device for continuously pulling taut strips from the reels so that the tension on the paper as it comes from the reels is always the same. With this end in view, there is provided a U- frame 50 which is fulcrumed on a shaft 51 journaled in arms 52 projecting forwardly from the standards 49. The U-frame 50 is connected by means of a link 53 with the eccentric 43 before referred to as one of the individual prime movers.

The opposite end of the U-frame carries a shaft 54,and fast upon this shaft are two feed-rollers 55. The shaft 54 is driven by means of a sprocket 56 fast thereon, this sprocket being driven by a chain 57, deriving its motion from a sprocket 58 on a shaft 51 before referred to. The shaft 51 is provided with a second sprocket 59, by means of which it is driven through the agency of a chain 60 overrunning the same, and also deriving its motion from. a sprocket 61 fast on and driven by a shaft 62, the latter being journaled in brackets 63-63, supported on the bed 22 before referred to, one on either side of the machine. The shaft 62 is driven by means of four chains 64 deriving their motion from a shaft 65, journaled in brackets 6666 supported by the bed 22, one oneither side of the machine. These four chains 64 form a part of another elemental organization of the machine, that is, the means for wrapping individual sections of paper around packages, but they also serve to drive the feed-rollers of the paper-feeding mechanism. The shaft 65 is driven by means of a chain 67 from the sprocket 45 before referred to,-as one of the rotary prime moversof the elemental organization of the machine.

Mounted in juxtaposition with the feedrollers 5555 are coacting feed-rollers 68 68 which may be thrown in and out of cooperative relationship with the feed-rollers 5555 by means of an eccentric throwout mechanism 69 of well known construction and operation. Loosely mounted on the shaft 51 are idle rollers 7070. Each strip of paper is led from one of the reels 46, under one of the idle rollers 70, over one of the coacting feed-rollers 68 and down between the same and the coacting primary feed-roller 55. By means already described, the feed-roller 55 is driven continuously and the two feed- rollers 55 and 68 therefore not to continuously pull the taut strip of paper from a reel.

It is desirable, however, that the leading end of each taut strip be alternately advanced and stopped to alternately place it in position to be assembled with the packages, and to permit the severance of sections of said strip to form individual Wrappers for individual packages, without, however, interrupting the continuous operation of the strip pulling device. With this end in View, mechanism is provided for producing a to and fro movement of the strip pulling device or feed-rollers, and this mechanism is provided by the eccentric prime mover 43 and link 53 hereinbefore described. As the cocentric 43 rotates, the U-frame 50, carr ing the feed-rollers 5568, is oscillated a out the axis of the shaft 51 by means of the link 53 connecting the eccentric 43 with the U- frame 50. It will be remembered that the feed-rollers are constantly rotating and constantly pulling a strip of paper from a reel. When, however, the feed-rollers 5 5-'68 are swung downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 10, the leading end of the strip is advanced at a greater rate of s eed than the strip is pulled from the reel or the reason that the downward movement of the feed-rollers is added to their strip feeding movement. When the leading end of the strip has been advanced from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10, it has reached a osition for assembly with the package and or the severance of an individual section from the leading end of the strip, so that said section may be wrapped about the bunch. As soon as the feed-rollers 55--68 reach the position shown in Fig. 10, which is at the time the eccentric 43'occupies its highest position, as shown in Fig. 5. their movement is reversed and the reverse movement is continued until the feed-rollers are in the position shown in Fig. 9.

During this reverse movement, the feedrollers continue pulling the strips from the reels, but as they swing upwardly they roll back on the leading ends of the strips at a rate of speed which is equal to the rate at which they pull the strips from the reels. The leading ends of the strips are therefore stopped during this movement, and the slack of the strips which otherwise would exist is taken up in the longer path along which the strips must travel when the feedrollers are in the position shown in Fig. 9, than when they are in the position shown in Fig. 10, in order to reach the severing mechanism.

When the leading ends of the strips have been advanced by the downward movement of the feed-rollers 55-68 and have come to a stop, individual sections are severed from the strips, each section to be assembled with, and then wrapped around, a package. To guide the leading ends of the strips into proper position to be severed, there are provided curved uide bars 71 supported by a bar 72 exten ing across the machine and supported at either end by brackets 73 rising from the bed 22 before referred to. These guide bars are stationary and lie in grooves 74 formed on the perimeter of the feed-roller 55. Below the guide bars 71 are guide channels 75 which guide the edges of a strip as it is advanced during the downward movement of the feed-rollers, that is, while the latter are moving from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10. As soon as they reach the position shown in Fig. 9, sections are severedtherefrom. This 18 accomplished by means of flying knives 76, each mounted on a vertical shaft 77 and each coacting with a ledger plate 78 on the under side of the bar 72 before referred to. Each shaft 77 is rotated by means of spiral gearing 79, from a horizontal shaft 80 driven by means of a chain 81 from the shaft 62 before referred to. The flying knives 76 are so timed that they engage the strips at the time the leading ends of the same have reached the position shown in Fig. 10, and they come to a stop in that position. Having severed sections from the leading ends of the strips, the flying knives continue their orbital movement without interruption and again engage the strips at the end of the next downward movement of the feed-rollers. When the sections have been so severed from the strips, they are in position to be assembled with packages.

Means is provided for assembling packa es with sections severed from the strips of paper or other flexible material in which the packages are to be wrapped, and as shown, this means is also of a dual character so that two packages will be operated upon simultaneously by the mechanism used to assemble them with severed sections.

The packages to be wrapped are deposited in the machine in inclined magazines 82 of well known character. The packages are successively removed from the bottoms of these magazines and assembled with sections just previously severed from the strip of paper or other wrapping material. With this end in view, there is provided a lever 83 fulcrumed on a bar 84 extending across the machine, its ends being secured in the legs 23, 24. This lever 83 is provided with a. quick-throw cam slot 85 which engages the roller 40 carried on the crank prime mover 39 before referred to. The upper end of the lever 83 is connected by means of a link 86, with a crosshead 87 including a cross bar 88 which slides on two he "s 89 supported on brackets 90 rising from the bed 22 before referred to. The cross bar 88 supports two plungers 91 each having a package pushing shoulder 92 (Figs. 7 to 11), a package supporting shelf 93, and a second package pushin shoulder 94 at the leading end of said sielf. The leading ends of the plungers 91 move over a table 95 which is supported by the brackets 63 before referred to.

When the lever 83 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, each plunger 91 will be in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7 with the package pushing shoulder 92 engaging the rear edge of the lowermost package in its magazine 82. As the lever 83 is operated, as toward the right in Fig. 2, by

the crank roller 40, the plunger 91 moves to the position shown in Fig. 8 carrying what was the lowermost package in the stack along with it. During this movement, the package engages and raises a latch 96 and passes under the same. Continuance of this movement brings the package to the position shown in Fig. 9, adjacent the strip to a small bracket 99 supported by the bracket 90 before referred to. It is normally pulled downwardly by 'a tensionspring 100 hooked to the latch and to apin 101 fast in the bracket 90 before referred to. When the leading package and the plunger have reached the position shown in Fig. 10, the package is ready for assembly with a severed section of a strip of wrapping material. This is accomplished by the next forward movement of the plunger 91, during which its leading pushing shoulder engages the rear edge of the package and pushes it along the table 95, as shown in Fig. 11, the package being marked P. As the package is pushed ahead by the oncoming plunger, it engages a severed section of wrapping material and doubles the same over its leading edge by pushin the said section ahead of it between the ta le 95 and a plate 102 spaced from and supported by the table 95. As the now assembled package and section enter the space between the table 95 and the plate 102, the sides of the section come into engagement with stationary folders 103, one on either side of the pathway, along a straight section of which the package is now moving. These folders are of well known construction and operation, and they serve to make the initial fold of the section projecting beyond the package, as indicated in Fig. 12. The plunger 91 advances the package so folded along the table 95 to the position shown in Fig. 13,-

where it comes into engagement with a second pair of stationary folders 104; supported by the table 95. These folders turn up the lower flaps of the wrapping section on either side of the package, as clearly shown in Fig; 13, but the upper flaps still remain in unfolded condition.

Means are provided for applying adhesive to the sections so that the wrapper section, when completely folded about the package, will be pasted fast to an underlying part of the same and remain closed. This adhesive applying mechanism on eachside of the machine includes a pair of wheels 105 which engage the under side of the outstanding upper fiap of the wrapper section just after a package has passed the position shown in Fig. 13. The wheels 105 are narrow and take paste by rolling contact with a paste roller 106 partly submerged in a paste fountain 107 of well known construction and operation. The paste applying wheels 105 are mounted on a shaft 108 journaled in brackets 109 supported by the brackets 49 before referred to. The rear end of the shaft 108 carries the gear 110 driven by a gear 111 fast on a shaft 112 extending across the machine and journaled in the brackets 63 before referred to. The shaft 112 carries a sprocket 113 by means of which it is driven through the agency of a chain 114 which overruns said sprocket 113, and a sprocket 115 on the shaft 42'before referred to. By the continuously operating mechanism just described, the paste is ap plied to the under side of the upper flaps of the section as it is partially wrapped about the package.

When the package has been pushed by the plunger 91 to the position where it receives paste from the paste wheels 105, the plunger retreats and continuously operating means picks up the package and carries it farther along its pathway. This means includes the four chains before referred to, and each of these chains is provided with a series of devices performing three functions: first, to fold up the rear end of the lower flap against the rear side of the package; second, to pick up a dab of paste from the paste roller 106 and carry it toward and apply it to the rear edge of the upper flap of the wrapper section; and third, to push the package along still farther.

These devices are numbered 116. Fig. 13.

shows one of them picking a dab of paste from the roller 106; Fig. 14 shows one folding up the rear end of the lower flap against the rear edge of the package and at the same time applying a dab of paste to the rear end of the overhanging upper flap; and Fig. 16 shows one of them pushing a package along the table 95. As the pushers 116 move a package away from the paste wheels 105, they move it into engz'igement with stationary folders 117 which fold down the upper side flaps to which the wheels have just applied paste. The construction and operation of these folders is also well known in the art.

After a package has passed the folders 117, the wrapper section will have been completely folded over the leading edge, the top, the bottom and both sides of the package, and the bottom flap will have been folded up against its rear edge.

The next operation is the folding in of the sides of the wrapper section against the rear end of the package. This is accomplished by means of two rocking folders 118, one on either side of the pathway and mounted on vertical shafts 119. These vertical shafts 119 are rocked by means of bevel gearing 120, one element of which in each case is fast on a horizontal shaft 121. This shaft at the center of the machine carries .a gear 122, by means of which it is driven, the gear being rocked by means of a rack 123 formed on the bottom of a bar 124 extending along the middle of the machine and reciprocated by means of the crosshead 87 before referred to. When the package reaches the proper position, the folders 118 swing in behind it and fold the two sides of the overhanging flap in against the rear edge of the package. At this time, the package will have been moved off from the table 95 on to an oscillating or lifting arm 125, fast on a shaft 126, extending across the machine and journaled in brackets 127 rising from the bed 22. The shaft 126 is provided with an arm 128 by means of which it is rocked. This arm 128 is o erated by means of a link 129 connecting it with a lever 130. The lever 130 is fulcrumed at 131 to a bracket 132 secured to the bed 22. At 133 the lever 130 is pivoted to a link 134 which is also pivoted at 135 to an eccentric strap 136, operated by the eccentric 44 before referred to. The eccentric strap 136 is also pivoted at 135 to a radius arm 137 fulcrumed at 138 to the bracket 132 before referred to. The eccentric 44 is the individual prime mover of this train of mechanism for swinging the lifting arm 125 up along the curved section 139 of the package pathway, and the linkage is such that the arm 125 has a period of dwell in the position shown in Fig. 5 which is the position it occupies when receiving an oncoming package. As the shaft 42 rotates, and the eccentric 44 moves the pivotal point 135, as to the right in Fig. 5, but under the control of the radius arm 137, the link 134 swings over idly or with an extremely small movement until the point 135 has passed to the right of the point 133. It then pulls down on the lever 130 and raises the lifting arm 125, pushing a package ahead of it through the curved section 139 of the package pathway, as clearly shown in Fig. 21. As a package is lifted into this curved section of the pathway by the arm 125, the upper flap of the wrapper section overhanging the rear of the package, which is the flap to which paste was applied by one of the elements 116, is folded down flat against the rear edge of the package and is held in this condition as the package is moved through the curved section to and along the second straight section 140 of the package pathway. This is effected by .the adjusting means, and the means of a stationary curved brush 141 and a stationary fiat brush 142, sup orted by brackets 143, carried by the stra1g t section 140 of the pathway, the latter being supported b side brackets 144 bolted to the brackets 127 efore referred to. Side brushes 145 for engaging the sides of the package where the pasted fo ds are made to hold them firmly in position until the paste dries, or in other words, until the package is sealed, are adjustably supported, partly in brackets 143, and partly in small brackets 146, supported by the straight section 140 of the pathway.

It will be noted that the paper folding means, the package and wrapping assembling means, the package wrapping means,

ackage sealing means are all of a dual 0 aracter and that abrupt movements of the various parts of these means are avoided by the utilization as prime movers of rotating eccentrics or cranks or gearing instead of cams. As a result of this construction and its smooth operation, machine speed may be doubled and machine output quadrupled over the result heretofore obtainable by the use of machines of this general character, and without increasing machine wear and tear. Actual test has demonstrated that the machine will operate smoothly faster than an operator can charge the two magazines with packages to be wrapped.

In view of the foregoing full description a detailed description of the operation of the device is deemed unnecessary and is therefore omitted in the interest of brevity.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a device for continuously pulling a taut strip of flexible material from a source of supply, of mechanism for producing a to and fro movement of said device to alternately advance and stop the leading end of said strip, means for severing a section of material from the leading end of said strip while the latter is stopped, and means for wrapping the severed section around an article, said wrappin means including a pathway for articles said pathway having a curved section, and intermittently moving means for advancing ar- 115 ticles along said curved section.

2. The combination with a device for continuously pulling a taut strip of flexible ma: terial from a source of supply, of mechanism for producing a to and fro movement of 120 said device to alternately advance and stop the leading end of said strip, means for severing a section of material from the leading end of said stri while the latter is stopped, and means or wrapping the sev- Hi ered section around an article, said wrap-- ping means including a pathway for articles said pathway havin a curved section, and an intermittently oscillating arm for advancing articles along said curved section.

. severing a section of material from the leading end of said strip while the latter is stopped, and means for wrapping the severed section around an article, said wrapping means including a pathway for articles, and means for assembling said sections with articles in said pathway, and a chain having pushers for simultaneously advancing assembled articles and sections along said pathway and applying adhesive to said sections.

4. The combination with a device for continuously pulling a taut strip of flexible material from a source of supply, of mechanism for producing a to and fro movement of said device to alternately advance and stop the leading end of said strip, means for severing a section of material from the leading end of said strip while the latter is stopped, and means for wrapping the severed section around an article, said wrapping means including a crank as its prime mover, operating connections for starting an article through said means, and continuously moving means taking and advancing articles from said connections.

5. The combination with a device for continuously pulling a taut strip of flexible material from a source of supply, of mechanism for producing a to and fro movement of said device to alternately advance and stop the leading end of said strip, means for severing a section of material from the leading end of said strip while the latter is stopped, and means for wrapping the severed section around an article, said wrapping means including a crank as its prime mover, a lever actuated by said crank, a bar reciprocated by said lever, a plunger carried by.

said bar for starting an article through said wrapping means, and continuously moving chains carrying article pushers taking and advancing articles from said plunger.

6; The combination with a device for continuously pulling a taut strip of flexible material from a source of supply, of mechanism for producing a to and fro movement of said device to alternately advance and stop the leading end of said strip, means for severing a section of material from the leading end of said strip while the latter is stopped, and means for wrapping the severed section around an article, said wrapping means including a pathway for articles said pathway having a curved section, and means for moving articles along said curved section including a pusher, an eccentric prime mover, and intermediate connections transforming the continuous movement of said eccentric into intermittent movement of said pusher.

7. The combination with a device for continuously pulling a taut strip of flexible material from a source of supply, of mechanism for producing a to and fro movement of said device to alternately advance and stop the leading end of said strip, means for severin a section of material from the leading on of said strip while the latter is stopped, and means for wrapping the severed section around an article, said wrapping means including a pathway for articles said pathway having a curved section, and means for moving an article along said curved section including an eccentric as its prime mover, an oscillatory arm coacting with said curved section, and intermediate linkage producing a dwell of said arm.

8. In a wrapping machine the combination with devices for'folding a wrap or section about the front and two sides 0 an article with the ends of the section overhanging the rear side thereof, a pushing and folding element, and means for imparting to said element a folding motion to fold one of the overhanging ends of the section and a push-- ing movement to forward the article, and mechanism for completing the folding of the section adjacent the path of forwarding.

-9. In a wrapping machine the combination with devices for folding a wrapper section about the front andw two sides of an article with the ends of the section overhanging the rear side thereof, a pushing and folding element, and means for imparting to said element a folding motion to fold one of the overhanging ends of the section and a pushing movement to forward the article, and mechanism for completing the folding of the section adjacent the path of forwarding, said pushing element including a paste applying surface adapted to contact the wrapper section, and means for supplying paste to said surface.

10. In a wrapping machine the combination with devices for folding a wrapper section about the front and two sides of an article with the ends of the section overhanging the rear side thereof, a pushing and folding element, and means for imparting to said element a folding motion to fold one of the overhanging ends of the section and a pushing movement to forward the article, and mechanism. for completing the folding of the section adjacent the path of forwarding, means for carrying the article transversely out of the path of the forwarding movement and a stationary folder for turning down the other overhanging end of the section as the result of said transverse motion.

11. Folding and forwarding mechanism for wrapplng machines comprising an article runway, a pushing and folding element, and means for imparting movement to said element to fold a trailing flap projecting from the article and then push the article along the runway said means including a travelling chain supporting said element.

12. Folding and forwarding mechanism for wrapping machines comprising an article runway, a pushing and folding element, means for imparting movement to said element to fold a trailing flap projecting from the article and then push the article along therunway, said element having a surface for applying paste to a wrapper on said article and means for supplying said surface with paste.

13. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for folding a wrapper section about the front and two sides of an article with the ends of the section overhanging the rear side of the article, means for forwarding the article also operating to fold one end flap, stationary folders for folding the section about the other two longitudinal sides of the article, oscillating folders for folding in the opposite rear side flaps, and means for carrying the package out of the path of forwardinfg, operating to fold the remaining rear end ap.

14. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article runway of a source of supply of articles at one end of said runway, a reciprocating element extending lengthwise to said runway, means for selecting and forwarding articles from sald supply, movable flap folders along the runway, and operating connections between said reciprocating element and said selecting means and folders, whereby said folders are actuated from said selecting means, said element being geared to said folders.

15. In a wrapping machine, the combination with an article runway of a source of supply of articles at one end of said runway, a reciprocating element extending lengthwise to said runway, means for selecting and forwarding articles from said supply, movable flap folders along the runway, and operating connections between said reciprocating element and said selecting means and folders, whereby said folders are actuated from said selecting means, said element having rack teeth and gearing actuated by said rack teeth operating said folders.

16. The combination with forwarding mechanism including a runway and an article pushing element, of means for causing said element both to fold a trailing flap on said article and push the article along the runway said means including a travelling chain supporting said element.

17. The combination with a moving article pushing element, of an adhesive applying surface on said element positioned to engage a wrapper associated with said article, and means for supplying adhesive to said surface.

18. The combination with a moving article pushing element, of an adhesive applying surface on said element ositioned to engage a wrapper associated with said article, and means for supplying adhesive to said surface, said applying surface being separated from the pushing surface of the element.

19. Folding and forwarding mechanism for partially wra ped articles having proectmg wrapper aps comprising an article runway, a pushing and folding element, means first imparting a movement to said element at an angle to said runway to fold a pro ect1ng wrapper flap and then impartlng a movement to said element along the runway to push the article, said means includmg a travelling chain supporting said element.

20, The combination with means for maintaming a stack of articles one above the other, of an article selecting and forwardmg device on which said stack rests having forward and rearward upper surfaces the former stepped below the latter and connected thereto by a vertical pushing face, means for reci rocating said device to cause the pushing ace and forward surface to feed articles one by one from the bottom of the stack, means for engaging the rear edge of the articles for preventing the return movement of articles on said forward surface to drop the latter on rearward movement of the device, into the range of action of the front end of said device, means for feeding a web of wrapping material into position for enwrapping an article pushed by said front end, means for severing the web, and mechanism including an endless chain and pushers supported by said chain for further forwarding the partially wrapped article from enwrapping position.

21. The combination with means for maintaining a stack of articles one above the other, of an article selecting and forwarding device on which said stack rests having forward and rearward upper surfaces the former stepped below the latter and connected thereto by a vertical pushing face, means for reciprocating said device under said stack to cause the pushing face and forward surface to feed articles one by one from the bottom of the stack, a latch arranged to engage the rear edge of the articles for preventing return movement of articles on the forward surface to drop the latter on rearward movement of the device into the range of action of the front end of said device, means for feeding a web of wrapping material into position for enwrapping an article pushed by said front end, means for severing the web, and mechand connected thereto by a vertical pushing face, means for reci )rocating said device to cause the pushing ace to feed articles one by one from the bottom of the stack, means for engaging the rear edge of the articles for preventing the return movement of articles on said forward surface to drop the latter on rearward movement of the device, into the range of action of the front end of said device, means for feeding a wrapper into position for enwrapping an article pushed by said front end, and mechanism including an endless chain and pushers supported on said chain for further forwarding the partially wrapped article from enwrapping position.

23. The combination with means for maintaining a stack of articles one above the other, of an article selecting and forwarding device on which said stack rests having forward and rearward horizontal surfaces connected by a vertical pushing face, and means for reciprocating ,sai d device to cause the pushing face to feed articles one by one from the bottom of the stack, means for engaging the rear edge of the articles for preventing the return movement of articles on said forward surface to drop the latter on rearward movement of the device, into the range of action of the front endof said device, and means for feeding a wrapper into position to enwrap an article pushed by said front end, mechanism for further forwarding the article from the enwrapping position, and means co-operating with said mechanism for completing the wrapping of said article, said mechanism including an endless chain and pushers supported on said chain.

.24. The combination with means for maintaining a stack of articles one above the other, of an article selecting and forwarding device on which said stack rests having forward and rearward horizontal surfaces connected by a vertical pushing face, and means for reciprocating said device to cause the pushing face to feed articles one by one from the bottom of the stack, means for preventing the return movement of articles on said forward surface to drop the latter on rearward movement of the device, into the range of action of the front end of said device, means for feeding a wrapper into position to enwrap an article pushed by said front end, mecha-

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