US2808691A - Individual packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 8,1957

H. "N. MOORE INDIVIDUAL PACKAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, 1949 IN VENTOR H. N. MOORE INDIVIDUAL PACKAGING' MACHINE Oct. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet! Filed May 10. 1949 United States Patent INDIVIDUAL PACKAGING MACHINE Howard Nelson Moore, Washington, D. C.

Application May 10, 1949, Serial No. 92,476

2S Claims. (Cl. 53-194) The present invention concerns packaging apparatus.

The present application is a continuation in part of copending application Serial Number 411,235, filed September 17, 1941, now abandoned, and may be utilized to produce the packages there shown and others discussed herein and in copending related applications.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for producing a package of a number of articles which are individually wrapped.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for producing a package containing a number of substantially sterile articles, each of which is sealed against contamination by any foreign matter, moisture or the like.

lt is an object of the invention to provide automatic means for producing a strong columnar segmented package comprising nested sections with overlapping side walls adhered to each other successively to form individual sterile compartments, each containing at least one measured article unit.

The present invention provides a device whereby individual units of similar character may be rapidly and securely packaged individually by a single strip of paper. While the illustrated form of the invention is primarily intended to package relatively small articles such as lozengers, candy mints, tablets, pharmaceutical, it nevertheless may be applied to much larger things such as slices of bread, cakes, cookies or anything which is fairly regular in outline and has two reasonably fiat surfaces.

The invention finds an important application'in the field of food packaging. Many perishable foods, for example meat patties, may be packaged individually in the same package by the present invention and may thereby eliminate the need of refrigeration where the food product has been irradiated, mixed with antibiotics, or other preservative means employed. It will be appreciated that the opening of one or more compartment units will neither disturb norcontaminate the remainder of the package. While the units need not be round, they should preferably be substantially uniform in shape.

The term article is used herein as a thing of a particular class or kind, as defined at page 156 of Websters New International Dictionary, Second Edition, unabridged, G. & C. Merriam Company, publishers, 1947.

One form of the present invention utilizes a feeding table in the central portion of which is an aperture of such size as to receive the article. The aperture is surrounded by a depending tube with a ilaring lip. A roll of wrapping paper of suitable width is deposed at one side of the table and led by suitable guides and feeding rollers across the aperture. Above the aperture is positioned a die punch. The paper is fed across the aperture by `suitable mechanism and the article to be Wrapped positionedY thereon. A die punch is then lowered to cut a suitable blank from the paper. The edges of the blank may be tongued or not as desired. A punch which is associated with the die structure forces the article to be wrapped and the 'small paper blank upon which it rests into the flaring mouth Qf the aperture.

fifiice the paper blank to leave an upstanding annular collar extending well above the article to be wrapped. The article rests within the tube in a dishlike compartment the top of which is open. The feeding rollers advance the paper strip so that it again covers the aperture and a second article is deposited thereon overthe aperture and substantially centrally thereon. The dry punch again descends, cuts a second blank and forces the article and the blank on which it restsinto the tube on top of the rst article. The second blank will be seen to form a cover for the rst article and the marginal portion of the rst blank will extend up around the sides of the second article on the outside of the second blank. This operation is repeated and the articlesvforce each other down the tube which, after the mouth portion is passed, is of such diameter as to cause the marginal portion of the blanks toy lit snugly against the outside of the side of the next succeeding article and blank. The tongued portions permit easy overlap at this stage. The paper may be waxed coated or of heat sealing cellophane or the like. A portion of the periphery ofthe tube may be heated by any suitable means such as a heating coil, causing the marginal portions of the blanks which are folded against the sides of the succeeding blanks to adhere thereto in a vapor proof gas tight seal. The article is entirely enclosed between the two blanks in an individual compartment. If desired the die punch structure may be made hollow and the articles `deposited on the paper strip over the aperture from a magazine feed in the hollow portion of the punch. In this way the larticle is deposited substantially simultaneously with the dieing out of the paper blank. A perhaps simpler construction may beobtained by employing a separate mechanism for positioning the articles.

This is particularly true Where some variation in size must be dealt with. If desired, pre-formed cups may be used to f orm the package as taught at Figures 10 and 11 of the above application by nesting them in the tube where the cup walls overlap and are sealed.

In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts throughout. The several figures shown in the drawing arerpresented for illustrative purposes only, to show one form the invention may take. They are not to be taken as limiting.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation in section of one form of the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation in section of the die punch mechanismand one form of event wheel.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is 4a second form of event Wheel.

Fig. 5 is one form of package having a formed closure of part of the wrapper.

Fig. 6 is yanother form of closure member.

i Oneform of the invention comprises a machine frame 10 of usual construction which supports a table 11 having package having an added a central aperture 12. An annular guide ring 13 is mount-Y Yupper end of tube 15. While aperture 12and channel 14 are' shown a frusto conical and 1tube `1S is cylindrical it will be understood that these elements may have polygonal, elliptical, or any other suitable cross-section to confirm with or to form the packaged units or the package produced. The lower end lofyturbe 15 may have a somewhat enlarged diameter at V16 and may be connected with anotherftube or slide tti-deliverV completed packages toga "e, Y y box or-'other -groupin'gfofv packagesV as a merchandizingVY There is suicient margin provided on 1 At one side of aperture 12 a narrow roll 17 of strip packaging material such as waxed paper, coated heat or pressure sealing cellophane, coated heat or pressure sealing foils or the like is mounted at 18 on frame 10 and table 11. The narrow strip 19 is led over curved'guide 20, along the upper surface `of table 311 between feed rolls 21 and 22 and over aperture 12 to a very slightly raised stop edge 23 in table 11. Table 11 is constructed with its upper surface at two slightly different levels, that portion to the left of stop edge 23 in Fig. l being higher than the portion to the right by the thickness of strip 19. Additional feed rolls 21, 22 may be provided if desired to assure that strip 19 lies dat and does not buckle. Y' p A guide sleeve 24 is supported by frame 1G directly over aperture 12 in table 11. A cutter member 25 is slidably mounted within guide sleeve 24 and provided with an annular cutting edge 26 and radial slitting knives 27. Annular cutting edge 26 dies out a circular blank from strip 19 and radial knives 27 cut radial slits in the outer edge of the blank. Where pucker is a problem slitting knives 27 may take the form shown at 28 and remove small wedgeshaped sectors from a blank.

Centered within guide sleeve 24 is a tube 29 which makes sliding contact with an air tight packing gland 30 in the upper closed end 31 of guide sleeve 24. An annular piston plate 32 is mo-unted on tube 29 at 33 and slides smoothly within the guide sleeve 24. A coil spring 34 is connected at one end to the lower side of annular piston 32, at the end to the upper side of cutter member 25 and surrounds that portion of tube 29 between piston 32 and cutter 25. MountingA means 33 firmly unites piston 32 and tube 29', but cutter member 25 can slide relative to both sleeve 24 and tube 29 under the reaction of the cutting force exerted on strip 1-9 and the eiect of spring 34.

Tube 29 may contain a central resilient plunger element 35 of rubber or the like as shown in Fig. l or it may contain a series of closure members 36 of cardboard, liber, plastic or other material as shown in Fig. 3. Where closure members aire employed tube 29 extends upward into a supply hopper in which it reciprocates under the cornbned action of piston 32 and restoring spring 37. Restoring spring 37 is anchored to the inner wall of sleeve 24 by bolts 38 and acts against the under surface of piston 32. It is to be understood that although sleeve 2d,v cutter member 25 and tube 29 are shown as circular in cross-section they may be of any shape suitable to cooperate with aperture 12, channel 14V and tube 15.

As will be seen in Fig. 3 the upper portion of sleeve 24 between end closure 31 and annular piston 32 comprises pneumatic cylinder to which air under suitable pressure is supplied from compressor-reservoir combination 39 by pipe 4t). A combination control and bleed valve 41 is connected in pipe 40 and -is operated by solenoid 42 connected in turn to control panel 43 by lead wires 44. Y

Closure member ejector 45 is mounted on an inner wall of sleeve 24 with the pneumatic cylinder portion. Ejector 45 comprises a pointed armature 46 movable to-` ward closure elements 36 `under the action of energizing winding 47 connected to control panel 43 by lead Wires 4S. A light compression spring49 maintains armature 46 inoperative when winding 47 is not energized. Armature 46 operates by extending through slot 50 intube 29 and holding the column of closure members 36 stationary momentarily until' the lowest element 36 is ejectedA placeable when empty. Beneath article supply ltubefSl, is

mounted article positioning arm 53 having a curved ar-A ticle receiving face portion 54 and an elongate arcuate tail portion 55. Tube 51 is raised suiciently above table 11 to allow ample clearance for the passage of arm S3 and a si-ngle article 52. Arcuate tail portion supports the remaining articles 52 until arm 53 is returned. Alrm 53 is operated by a spring return solenoid 56 and pivoted connecting rod 57 with suitable linkage. Solenoid 56 is connected to control panel 43 by lead wires 58.

Feed rolls 21 and 22 are driven by motor 59 connected to control panel 43 by lead wires 60. Motor 59 delivers just the right amount of strip 19 without drift.

Where the outline of cutting edge is other than rectangular an edging knife 61 is mounted on cutter member 25 by stud bolts 62 which move in slot 63 in guide sleeve 24. T rimmings are removed through cleaner channel 64 connected with a suitable source of low pressure and having a valve 65 operated by the descent of cutter member 25 or synchronized therewith through lead wires 44. Instead of using knife 61, roll 22 may be a Ser rating roll of a circumference equal to the length of wrapping portion 79 and positioned close enough to aperture 12 that only a single serration 80 exists in strip 19 at any one time.

In that form of the invention which employs resilient plunger element 35 instead of closure members 36 closure of a package is effected in a different manner. A solenoid 66 is mounted on the underside of table 11. A depending arm 67 provides a pivot for bent lever arm 68 one end of which is lconnected to plunger 69 of solenoid 66 and the other end has a widened package engaging portion '76. An elongate slot 71 in the lower part of tube 15 permits the passage of lever portion 70 which may be curved to t the bottom of the package. Lead wires 72 connect solenoid 66 to control panel 43 and may have a suitable delay 'device or network 73 in the circuit.

Top closure forming mold 74 is mounted on top of table 1.1 on an arm 75 which swings it clear of strip 19 which may be carried in a recessed channel in table 1i. Arm 75 is mounted in and operated by a spring return solenoid 76 which is connected to control panel 43 by lead wires 77. Heating element 7S is mounted on table 11 directly above closure mold 74 and is connected to a suitable source of power.-

The operation of the various elements is controlled by event timing wheel 81 shown with ten segments by way of example only. Wheel 81 is rotatably mounted on frame 10 or table 11 by pivot 82 and driven by motor `83 with a small friction wheel 84 which bears against the outer edge of wheel 81. A cable bar S5 is mounted on pivot 82 and control panel 43 and carries a series of mioro-sWitches'connected to the various terminals of control panel 43. Control panel 43 may bev provided with a power supply bus bar to which one side of each of the pairs of terminals thereon is connected and a bus lead to which oneside of each o-fthe micro-switches on` cable bar S5 is connected. Cable 86 is carried by bar 85 and connects the load side of each micro-switch to the loa-d side of thevcorresponding pair of lead wires connected to control panel 43. Leads S7 supply power to the bus bar and bus lead.

That form of the invention which utilizes closure elements 36 and lforms a package 8S of eight units 52 is provided with an event timing wheel 81'with events as shown in Fig. 2. Five-micro-switches S9, 90, 91, 92 and 93 of the mercury tilt type are spaced along cable bar SSYto correspond with five event circles 94, 95, 96,97

and 98 on wheel 81. Y

The outer circle 94 is provided with eight camlike projections 99 positioned at the leading edge of each segment 100 to 107' inclusive, which tilt mercury switch 89 and connect circuit 58 and? solenoid 56 across the power supply to actuat'e arm 53 position unit 52 onstrip 19 over` aperture 12.

d Circle is provided with eight camlike projections '11'07- centrally located in each of the segments 100 to 107 inclusive to cause switch 90 to connect circuit 44 and solenoid, 42 across the power supply.

Circle 96 is provided with eight camlike projections 111 located adjacent the trailing edge of segments 100 to 106 inclusive and 108 to cause switch 91 to connect circuit 60 across the power supply and energize motor 59.

Circle 97 is provided with a single camlike projection 112 positioned in segment 107 to close switch 92 just before switch 90 opens. Switch 92 places circuit 48 across the power supply and actuates plunger 46 when tube 29 is in its lowest position. Switch 92 opens when tube 29 has returned the distance of the thickness of one closure unit 36. In view of the critical character of this last action it may be desirable to actuate and release plungerV 46 by having tube 29 or piston 32 operate a switch in circuit 48. A mercury tilt switch in circuit 48 could be closed by a trip when tube 29 is in its lowest position and opened by a second trip when tube 29 has been raised the thickness of one closure unit 36.

That form of the invention which utilizes top closure forms mold 74 and forms a package 113 is provided with an event timing wheel 114 which is similar to wheel 81 in the `first seven segments 100 through 106 inclusive, as shown by segments 115 through 121 inclusive. Segment 122 closes circuits 58 and 44 respectively in the same time sequence as in segment 107 of wheel 81, but circuit 48 has been eliminated. In segment 122, circle 97, camlike projection 125 closes switch 92 and connects circuit 77 to the power supply, actuating solenoid 76 and placing top mold 74 over aperture 12. Switch 92 also closes circuit 72 and places solenoid 66 across the power supply through delay device 73, this assuring top mold 74 ample time to reach its position over aperture before package engaging portion 70 forces the package 113 upward, so that form 74 folds the upper aps of package 113 over and seals them.

Package 88 usually contains six, eight or ten merchandise units 52 each contained in individual nested cup shaped members 126 having their bottoms spaced apart to form compartments.

The walls of the members 126 are relatively long, establish a substantial overlap with a nested member and closely approach the bottom of the second next adjacent nested cup, leaving a narrow annular band 127 of single thickness of material such that the strength of the package 88 as a column is but slightly decreased and the opening of a single individual compartment is greatly facilitated. It is only necessary to force a finger nail against narrow band 127 to give rise to a relatively high localized stress in shear in this narrow strip of single thickness. The closely adjacent edge of the double wall portion provides a stiff resistant shearing edge which cooperates with the finger nail much like the blades of a pair of scissors. Where the cup members126 are made of heat sealing cellulose or other coated sheet material the nested members 126 are sealed together by a ring of sealing material adhering to the outside of one cup shaped member 126 adjacent its bottom and adhering to the inside of the next adjacent member 126 below adjacent to its top, forming a strong unitary structural member of the nested cup members 126. Closure 36 is preferably a little larger than the units 52 to assure a good seal under pressure as the cups 126 pass heat ring 128 surrounding tube 15. For quicker setting of the heat seal, particularly for package 113, the heating effect o'f ring 128 is localized by making it part of the inner wall of tube 15 an-d insulating ring 128 from the rest of tube 115 with iiber, porcelain, wood or the like. Where desired, as with medicaments, closure 36 may be a folded coiled direction sheet.

Package 113 differs from package in the top closure which is formed by yfolding over wall portions 129 of the uppermost cup member 126 and heat sealing them. Portions 129 should butt seal together in the center and overlap radially without the necessity of adding an outer paper disc seal. However such thin seals can be Substituted for resilient column 35 and added at the final punch operation for each package 113 if desired. To allow for variations and assure a complete closure a drop of liquid cellulose acetate may be added by top mold 74 to the center 130 during the forming step. Again wall portions 129 may be of such length that they extend slightly beyond center 130.

The operation of the machine and formation of the package 88 is as follows:

Tube 51 is lled with units 52 to be packaged and an adequate supply from a hopper is at hand. Strip 19 is advanced to stop 23 and covers aperture 12. Event timing wheel 81 is driven slowly counterclockwise by its motor. As segment passes under cable bar 85 projection 99 tilts mercury switch 89 in Fig. 2. Switch 89 closes circuit 58 and energizes spring return solenoid 56 which swings arm 53 with unit 52 in curved face 54 into position over aperture 12 yabove which unit 52 is supported by heat sealing cellulose acetate strip 19. Switch 89 opens as projection 99 passes, breaking circuit 58 and releasing solenoid 56. Arm 53 returns under spring action and another unit 52 to be packaged is dropped into place from tube 51. Tail portion 55 supports the column of units 52 in tube 51 until arm 53 is returned.

Projection in segment 100 closes switch 90 and circuit 44, operating valve 41 and admitting air under pressure from reservoir 39 through pipe 40 to the chamber formed by the closed upper portion of guide sleeve 24 and piston 32. Piston 32 moves downward under air pressure carrying tube 29, and cutter member 25 with it. Cutting edge 26 dies out a blank from strip 19 and radial knives 27 produce radial slits or wedge shaped cutouts where a small die 28 is used. While Fig. 3 shows cutting edges it will serve also to illustrate the died out blank. At the same time knife edge carried on member 25 squares oif the end of strip 19. This action stops the descent of member 25, but tube 29 continues to descend, compressing spring 34 and increasing the compression of spring 37. As tube 29 descends farther the closureV elements 36 held therein press upon the unit 52 positioned on the died out portion of strip 19 and presses both into aperture 12. The conical side of element 13 bend the periphery of the cut portion of strip 19 upward, causing the slit parts to overlap. When switch 90 opens after the passage of projection 110, circuit 44 is broken, releasing solenoid 42 and closing valve 41 whichdischarges the air acting on piston 32 rapidly into the atmosphere. 37 then restores tube 29 and cutter member 25 to their original positions. Projection 111 closes switch 91 and circuit 60, operating motor 59 and advancing the squared end of strip 19 to stop 23.

The above sequence is repeated for segments 101 through 106. In segment 107 projection 111 is omitted and on circle 97 a short projection 112 is positioned to Y close switch 92 just before switch 90 opens. That is circuit 48 is closed and pointed armature 46 is forced through slot 50 and impinges upon the column of closure membersV 36 within tube 29 when the bottom closure member 36 has pushed the eighth unit 52 of the package 88 into tube 15. On the release of air through valve 41 tube 29 rises under the action of spring 37, but the column of closure members 36 is held stationary by armature 46 just long enough to deposit the bottom closure member 36.- Switch 92 then opens and spring 49 withdraws armature 46 through slot 50, permitting the column of members 36 to rise with'tube 29.

Closure members 36 arecoated with the same heat sealing material as strip 19. As the died out portions of strip 19 are formed intoV cup shaped members 126 they are sealed together by neat sealing ring 128 which is connected to a suitable source of power and is preferably insulated from tube 15 which cools and sets the heatv seal'- strip 19 to stop 23 and the next package is formed and forces the preceding package through tube 15 which may be connected to a tube of slightly larger diameter so that the packages may be carried to a boxing platform by vacuum. The slot 71 will admit suiiicient air to prevent any such vacuum from aiecting strip 19 over aperture 12. As previously noted all trim from the punch operation is removed by vacuum. Closure members 36 may carry `any identifying indicia or printed material on their tops or bottoms.

The formation of package 113 is achieved by an event wheel 114. The rst seven segments 11S-121 are the same as on wheel 81. In segment 122 projections 99 and 119 operates as in segment 107, but circle 97 contains a projection 125 timed to operate after projection 110 has permitted switch 99 to open. Projection 125 closes switch 92 and circuits 72 and 77. Solenoid 76 swings vheated top forming mold 74 over aperture 12 and solenoid 65 causes lever face 70 to force the package 113 upward so that the wing portions 129 of the top cup 126 are folded over the top unit 52 and heat sealed in place. Delay device 73 assures that mold 74 is in place when the package 113 is pushed upward by lever 63.

Projection 110 in segment 123 operates tube 29 and the central resilient member 35 pushes the package 113 down again. Where seals are used, a column of seals replaces member 35. The lowest seal adheres to the folded portions 129 which are tacky when warm.

Projection 111 in segment 124 advances strip 19 and the apparatus is ready to form the next package. Portions 129 cool quickly and are no longer tacky as the next package forces the iirst down tube 15 which is widened enough adjacent end 16 to permit the preceding package to drop of its own vweight when the succeeding package is three quarters formed. When the vacuum conveying tube mentioned above is used the first package is removed as soon as it is pushed low enough to close slot 71 and is subjected to atmospheric pressure. The first package 113 of course must be removed to permit lever 6,8 to pass through slot 7i and function.

Squaring knife may be eliminated by packaging rectangular units 52 or placing a cutting edge such as 130 on wheel 22 the circumference of which is the same as the length of a died out portion. By positioning the rolls 21 and 22 Within one circumference of aperture i2 the need of a special holding means is eliminated.

It is contemplated that normal safety circuits may be incorporated in the device so as to stop event wheel 81 or 'Y While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, intended in the appended claims to cover b-y generic terms all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit ann1 scope of the invention.

I claim:

l.V In combination in a device for packaging a plurality of articles, a tabie having an aperture, a strip of wrapping material on said table, means to position an article to be packaged on said strip over the mouth of said aperture, means to remove a wrapper portion from said strip, means to force said article and said portion through said aperture and into a tube communicating with said aperture and aligned to receive said article and said wrapping portion in nested relation with successiveV similar wrapper portions, said tube having cross-section dimensions smaller than at least one of the area determining dimensions of said Wrapping portion, and means to cause adherence 'between nested successive wrapper portions whereby a plurality of wrapping portions may be nested togetherwith articles therebetween and overlapping parts of said nested wrapper portions being sealed together into a unitary package.

2. The combination set forth in claim l, said means to cause adherence comprising heat sealing means for said overlapping wrapper portions in nested relation.

3. Packaging apparatus comprising, mounting means, wrapping supply means positioned on said mounting means, means to position commodity units to be wrapped substantially in the center of a wrapping element supplied by said supply wrapping means, means to arrange said wrapper portion around at least one of said units, means to nest a plurality of wrapping elements with at least one commodity unit packaged therebetween and means to cause said wrapping elements to adhere to adjacent wrapping elements to form a unitary package.

4. in combination in apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles, a frame member, wrapping means supported by said frame member, means to position articles to be packaged on said wrapping means, means to disengage a portion of said Wrapping means, cupping means to arrange said wrapper portion around at least one or" said articles, means to nest a plurality of wrapping portions with at least one article packaged therebetween and to hold certain of said disengaged portions in sealing relation with each other whereby a plurality of wrapping portions rnay be nested together with articles therebetween and sealed together into a unitary package.

5. In combination in apparatus for packaging measured units of at least one commodity, mounting means, Wrapping means supported by said mounting means, means to place a commodity unit on said wrapping means, forming means to arrange said wrapping means around said unit, means to receive a plurality of commodity unit supporting wrapping means in over-lapping nested relation and sealing means for said wrapping means whereby said wrap ping means enclose commodity units therebetween and are sealed together to form a strong columnar unitary package.

6. In combination in apparatus for separately packaging measured quantities of at least one commodity, a frame, wrapper means carried by said frame for supplying wrapper elements, means to position a measured quantity of a commodity to be packaged. on a Wrapper element, wrapper forming means to arrange said'wrapper eelment around said measured quantity positioned on the element, means to support a plurality of commodity bearing wrapper elements in nested relation and sealing means for said wrappingV elements whereby said wrapper elements enclose said measured commodity quantities in a strong columnar unitary package.

7. The combination set forth Vin claim 6, said wrapper means comprising a coiled strip of Wrapper material, means to advance a portion of said strip to wrapping position and means to detach a wrapper element from said strip. l

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, said means to arrange a Wrapper element around a quantity of commodity'comprising apertured means having an effectively conical surface and cooperating punch means to force the wrapper element into an aperture of said apertured means.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8, said means to support comprising a tube having said sealing means mounted thereon as a heated ring.

l0. VThe combination set forth in claim 9, control means connected to said means to advance said strip, said means to position and said punch means to control the sequence ofl their operation. i v A 1l. The combination set forth in claim 10, and separate means to seal the last wrapper element of the package.

l2. The combination set forth in claim 3, said wrapping supply means comprising a coiled strip of heat sealable plastic material and means to disengage individual wrapper elements therefrom, said means to arrange a wrapper element around a commodity unit comprising cupping means for said wrapper elements.

13. The combination set forth in claim 3, and plug means to seal the last wrapper element of the package.

14. The combination set forth in claim 3, 'heat sealing forming means for sealing the last wrapper element of the package and means to force the unsealed end of the last wrapper element of said package into said forming means to form a closing seal on the last commodity unit added to the package.

15. The combination set forth in claim 6, forming means for sealing the last wrapper element of the package and means to force the unsealed ends of the last wrapper element of said package .into said forming means to form a closing seal on the last commodity unit added to the package.

16. The combination in packaging apparatus, support means having a working surface, wrapper element supply means carried by said support means, said working surface having an aperature, means to position wrapper elements over said aperture with a portion of each said element extending beyond the edge of said aperture, means to deposit measured quantities of commodity to be packaged on said wrapper elements, means to force wrapper elements through said aperture in nested relation with said individual measured quantities therebetween and means to seal overlapping portions of said wrapper elements into a columnar unitary package.

17. The combination set forth in claim 1, said tube being elongate and receiving a plurality of wrapper portions in overlapping nested relation.

1S. The combination set forth in claim 1, said means to cause adherence comprising means to press nested successive wrapper portions together into sealed compartment forming relation.

19. The combination set forth in claim 16, said means to seal nested portions comprising an elongate tube arranged to receive a plurality of said wrapper elements in nested relation.

20. The combination set forth in claim 19, said means to seal nested portions comprising heat sealing means mounted in heat sealing position adjacent said tube.

2]. In combination in apparatus for the packaging of a plurality of similar portions of a product to be individually packaged, comprising mounting means having means to receive individually wrapped product portions with their respective wrapper elements in contiguous overlapping nested relation, a supply of Wrapper elements for packaging said similar product portions individually, means to position vrapper elements sequentially on said mounting means to receive successive product portions to be individually packaged by said elements, means to position said product portions one at a time substantially on the center of successive wrapper elements and means to nest successive wrapper elements into each other in said means to receive with their respective product portions therebetween and the side walls of adjacent wrapper elements positioned in overlapped sealing relation in said means to receive whereby a package forming a strong unitary member of sealed nested elements forming individually sealed compartments for each product portion is produced.

22. The combination set forth in claim 2l, said supply of wrapper elements comprising a coiled striip of wrapping material from which said wrapper elements can be cut mounted on said mounting means, means for removing wrapper eelments from said strip, said means to receive comprising a cylinder supported by said mounting means and having a funnel-shaped opening to receive said individually wrapped product portions with their respective wrapper elements in contiguous overlapping nested relation.

23. In combination in apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles, mounting means, wrapping means supported by said mounting means, walled means to receive said wrapping means `as cup shaped elements in nested relation with overlapping side walls and at least one of said articles between adjacent nested elements, means to position articles to be wrapped, means to nest the wrapping elements with an article therebetween within said walled means and means to adhere at least portions of said overlapping side Walls in sealing relation to form a strong columnar unitary package having individual compartments.

24. The combination set forth in claim 23, said wrapping means comprising a coiled strip of heat sealing wrapper material, said walled means comprising a cylindrical tube having a flared conical entrance, means to advance a portion of said strip to wrapping position over said conical entrance to said tube, said means to nest comprising means to detach an element from said strip and force it into said flared entrance to said tube to form said cup-shaped elements, said means to adhere comprising heat sealing means carried by said tube and acting to cause adherence between the thermoplastic material on said overlapping side walls of the nested wrapping elements in said tube.

25. In combination in apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles separately in individual compartments, wrapping means for said articles, means to position said articles 'for Wrapping, means to nest successive individual wrapper elements with at least one article therebetween and with overlapping side walls and means to cause contiguous walls of successive wrapper elements to adhere to provide a unitary package having sealed compartments for said articles.

26. The combination set forth in claim 25, said wrapping means comprising an elongate strip of heat sealing wrapper material from which said individual wrapping means are detached, said means to nest successive individual elements comprising means to detach a wrapper element from said strip, said means to adhere comprising heat sealing means, said articles comprising measured units of perishable food material formed in masses of similar conguration.

27. The combination set forth in claim 26, means to move said strip intermittently, means to actuate said means to detach, means to operate said means to position and sequence operation control means connected to each of said means to move, said means to actuate and said means to operate to cause said three means to function in a predetermined sequence.

28. The combination set forth in claim 27, said sequence operation control means comprising a movable wheel having circuits closing means thereon and electrical circuits connected to said three means for the sequential actuation thereof, said circuits being constructed to be opened and closed by said circuit closing means, said means to nest comprising a tube for receiving said successive wrapped elements with at least one article therebetween and to press said overlapping side walls together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,555 Jenkins June 8, 1909 1,510,260 Cyrenius Sept. 30, 1924 1,745,929 Grimmeisen Feb. 4, 1930 2,043,830 Gront et al. June 9, 1936 2,189,347 Martin Feb. 6, 1940 2,210,509 Strauch Aug. 6 1940 2,302,846 Farmer Nov. 24, 1942 2,325,145 Martin July 27, 1943 2,365,920 Vaughn Dec. 26, 1944 2,439,977 Kendle Apr. 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,872 Great Britain June 8, 1955

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