Patent ID: 7661244

Claim:
Packaging apparatus for helically wrapping articles comprising a wrapping material applicator, a first conveyor for transporting unwrapped articles towards said applicator and a second conveyor for transporting articles that have been helically wrapped with flexible sheet material by the applicator, the first and second conveyors being spaced apart, the wrapping material applicator being disposed between said first and second conveyors and which serves, in use, to pass the wrapping material between the spaced apart first and second conveyors so as to wind the wrapping material around and wrap an article disposed in the space between the conveyors, the applicator comprising a rotary member and a fixed guide member, the rotary member being rotatable relative to and supported in rotation by the guide member, at least one reel shaft for supporting a reel of wrapping material mounted on the rotary member, an idler roller adjacent to the reel shaft for guiding the wrapping material as it is unwound from the reel, a plurality of rotary tension rollers supported on the rotary member and for applying tension to the wrapping material, a drive member for driving the rotary member in rotation relative to the guide member, and a transmission device between the rotary member and the guide member for converting the relative movement of the rotary member and guide member into rotation of the tension rollers, wherein the guide member has a surface that is drivingly connected to the transmission device so as to enable driving of the tensioning rollers in rotation at different rotary speeds so as to apply a stretch or tension to the wrapping material and wherein the idler roller is connected to the reel shaft by an endless loop belt.