Wrapping machine

Claim 2

In a machine for wrapping goods in shrinkable foil, a loading zone for introducing said goods; a wrapping station; a cooperating pair of foil-supply means arranged at said wrapping station and adapted to support foil extending therebetween for wrapping around said goods; welding means at said wrapping station for welding said foil when wrapped around said goods; a heating station; a discharge station; said stations being arranged in stationary positions along a substantially circular path; a plurality of carriers for said goods; and rotatable means supporting each of said carriers for independent rotation along said substantially circular path to move said goods from said wrapping station to said heating and discharge stations so that said carriers may be rotated at different speeds and may be stopped individually.

Claim 3

A machine is defined in claim 1, including a cooling station between said heating and discharge stations, said cooling station being positioned along said circular path.

Claim 4

A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said pair of foil supply means is arranged to receive said goods therebetween from above, and said welding means comprise a pair of welding members movable towards and away from each other above said goods when the latter are at said wrapping station.

Claim 5

A machine as defined in claim 1, including means at said loading zone for moving said goods laterally onto one of said carriers in a predetermined loading direction when said one carrier is positioned at said wrapping station, said pair of foil-supply means and said welding means being arranged in spaced relationship to said one carrier at said wrapping station in a manner such that said goods will pass said pair of foil-supply means and said welding means during loading in said predetermined direction.

Claim 6

A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotatable means includes a plurality of arms rotatable about a central axis, each of said carriers being mounted on one of said arms.

Claim 7

A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said carriers are interchangeable.

Claim 8

A machine as defined in claim 1 and adapted for the handling of stacks of goods, including aligning means for laterally straightening said stacks.

Claim 9

A machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said aligning means comprise at least one abutment plate.

Claim 10

A machine as defined in claim 1, including means for introducing said goods into said wrapping station in a direction substantially radial to said circular path, and means for turning said goods between said wrapping and heating stations about a generally vertical axis and through an angle of substantially 90* .

Claim 11

A machine as defined in claim 9, wherein said rotatable means supporting said carriers includes a plurality of rotatable arms, each of said carriers being turnable on one of said arms through said angle of substantially 90* .

Claim 12

In a machine for wrapping stacks of goods such as newspapers in shrinkable foil, a loading zone for introducing said goods; a wrapping station; a cooperating pair of foil-supply means arranged at said wrapping station and adapted to support foil extending therebetween for wrapping around said goods; welding means at said wrapping station for welding said foil when wrapped around said goods; a heating station; a discharge station; said stations being arranged in stationary positions along a substantiaLly circular path; a plurality of carriers for said goods; rotatable means supporting each of said carriers for rotation along said substantially circular path to move said goods from said wrapping station to said heating and discharge stations; holddown means mounted for synchronous rotation with said carriers and arranged to act upon the top surfaces of said stacks of goods; and actuating means for applying said holddown means to said stacks of goods and for withdrawing said holddown means therefrom.

Claim 13

In a machine for wrapping stacks of goods such as newspapers in shrinkable foil, a loading zone for introducing said goods; a wrapping station; a cooperating pair of foil-supply means arranged at said wrapping station and adapted to support foil extending therebetween for wrapping around said goods; welding means at said wrapping station for welding said foil when wrapped around said goods; a heating station; a discharge station; said stations being arranged in stationary positions along a substantiaLly circular path; a plurality of carriers for said goods; rotatable means supporting each of said carriers for rotation along said substantially circular path to move said goods from said wrapping station to said heating and discharge stations; holddown means mounted for synchronous rotation with said carriers and arranged to act upon the top surfaces of said stacks of goods; and actuating means for applying said holddown means to said stacks of goods and for withdrawing said holddown means therefrom.

Claim 14

A machine as defined in claim 11, wherein said holddown means comprises at least one plate.

Claim 15

A machine as defined in claim 11, wherein said rotatable means comprises a plurality of rotatable arms, and said holddown means comprises a plurality of individual holddown devices, each of said rotatable arms being arranged to support one of said carriers and one of said holddown devices.

Claim 16

A machine as defined in claim 13, wherein said actuating means comprises a plurality of individual actuators, each of said actuators being arranged one one of said rotatable arms and connected to operate the holddown device supported by the respective arm.