Patent ID: 7207158

Claim:
A folding method for forming a tubular wrapping about a substantially parallelepiped-shaped product, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the product ( 5 ), together with a sheet of wrapping material ( 4 ), inside a U-shaped pocket ( 16 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 17 ) and comprising a first and a second lateral wall ( 19 , 18 ) parallel to said longitudinal axis ( 17 ), so as to fold said sheet of wrapping material ( 4 ) so that a first lateral portion ( 42 ) of the sheet of wrapping material is interposed between the product ( 5 ) and said first lateral wall ( 19 ), and a second lateral portion ( 47 ) of the sheet of wrapping material, opposite the first, is folded outside and beyond the pocket ( 16 ) and crosswise to the first lateral portion ( 42 ); moving said first lateral wall ( 19 ) from a closed position contacting the product ( 5 ), to an open position opening said pocket ( 16 ), while at the same time holding said first lateral portion ( 42 ) folded down on the product ( 5 ) by moving a contrast member ( 34 ) from a rest position outside said pocket ( 16 ), to a work position contacting the first lateral portion ( 42 ); subsequently folding said second lateral portion ( 47 ) onto the product ( 5 ), and so as to overlap the first lateral portion ( 42 ), by inserting an external folding member ( 40 ) into the pocket ( 16 ); returning said first lateral wall ( 19 ) to the closed position, and said contrast member ( 34 ) to said rest position; and withdrawing said external folding member ( 40 ) from the pocket ( 16 ).