Patent ID: 6070389
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: B26D,B26F,B65B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for wrapping an article on one or more sides as it moves along a conveyor path, comprising:first and second conveyor arms for conveying an article along a substantially horizontal path of travel, each of said arms adapted to be pivoted about one end and swung upwardly such that said arm is substantially perpendicular to said horizontal path of travel;paper dispensing and guide assembly adapted to move a selected length of paper from a paper roll disposed beneath said conveyor arms upwardly between said conveyor arms and into the path of said article, said paper thereby covering said article on at least one side as said article travels into said paper;a wrapping assembly disposed between said conveyor arms for wrapping said article on at least one side with said dispensed paper, said wrapping assembly including a housing having an elongate chamber adapted to receive an upper margin of said paper therethrough and first and second paper support members arranged to contact said upper margin of said paper on at least two points, thereby maintaining said paper in a substantially vertical orientation relative to said conveyor arms;a cutting assembly for cutting said selected length of paper from said paper roll after completion of said wrapping process, said cutting assembly including an elongated cutting means having opposite longitudinal ends and a pair of oppositely disposed cutting edges and means for driving said cutting means between first and second positions, said first and second positions disposed on opposite sides of said dispensed paper;printing means disposed above said cutting assembly; anda turntable assembly for lifting said article to a selected elevation above said conveyor arms and turning said article 90 degrees relative to its path of travel along said conveyor arms.