Machine for sheathing articles - has flat, gusset-folded flexible tube passed between roller clamps after wedges enter gusset folds, and then over articles

摘要

The machine comprises a chassis (1) having a four pillars (2) in which a rectangular frame (10) is vertically slidable. A stack (5) of articles can be located within the chassis by a conveyor (3). The flat-folded tube (6) is fed downwardly by rollers (7) and encounters retractable wedges (9) on opposite sides of the frame, the wedges entering the gusset folds to separate their adjacent faces. Four roller clamps (17) each comprise two rollers and are slidably mounted in pairs on opposite sides of the frame. The clamps can each be actuated to grip the tube between the two rollers which form the clamp, and the clamps of each pair can be slid apart to spread the tube and to permit its open bottom edges to be gripped by devices (11) which can move downwards on the pillars to draw the tube through the rollers of the clamps (17) and over the stack.