FR2599001A1 - MACHINE FOR ENVELOPING OBJECTS BY MEANS OF A FILM - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION CONCERNS A MACHINE FOR WRAPPING OBJECTS BY MEANS OF A FILM AND, IN PARTICULAR, FOR WRAPPING CONTAINERS BY MEANS OF A FILM MADE OF HEAT-SHRINK PLASTIC MATERIAL. FOR THE ESSENTIAL, THIS MACHINE INCLUDES A SET 10 OF SUPERIMPOSED TURNTABLE PLATES WHICH IS ROTATED AROUND A CENTRAL SUPPORT SHAFT 11 AND WHICH INCLUDES, REGULARLY SPACED ON ITS PERIPHERY, A PLURALITY OF OBJECT HOLDERS 30 DESTINATIONS TO RECEIVE THE OBJECTS TO BE WRAPPED X AND PASSING SUCCESSIVELY IN FRONT OF AN OBJECT DELIVERY STATION 200, 201, A FILM FEEDING STATION 210, 212 AND AN OBJECT EXIT STATION 230, 233, EACH OBJECT HOLDER 30 CONTAINING A BODY 50 OF FILM HOLDER F WHICH CAN MOVE BETWEEN REST AND WORKING POSITIONS AND WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH ROWS OF FILM SUCTION OPENINGS. APPLICATION TO THE WRAPPING OF OBJECTS FOR DECORATIVE AND PROTECTIVE PURPOSES.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for wrapping objects in the

  means of a film, and more specifically, to wrap containers with a film or "film" of heat-shrinkable plastic material. Since this operation is generally called "dressing" by specialists in the field, the term "dressing machine" will often be used later to designate the machine in question. The objects that can be processed by the machine according to the invention may be any type of container

  such as bottles, cans or bowls of any shape, cylindrical or round for example.

  The films used by the wrapping machine according to the present invention may be protective films which minimize the dispersion of fragments of the container when the latter breaks, or prevent the opening of the container by others than its buyer, but it can also be movies

  decorative for aesthetic purposes or intended to present the product contained in the container.

  It is known to wrap containers or similar objects in heat-shrinkable films for the purpose of protection and / or decoration. It is also known to wrap together the necks and capsules of containers to prevent their accidental separation. Whatever the purpose, the wrapping by a cut film in a roll of a predetermined size has heretofore been achieved by wrapping the film around the container, its ends overlapping and then fusing together the superposed ends. of the film to form a tube surrounding the container, and finally subjecting this tube of film to a heat treatment which retracts it so that it can

fit the container.

  Such a dressing machine is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,245,452 of Jan. 20, 1980, and an essential part of this machine is shown in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

  to illustrate the prior art.

  this recess 302, the film F being placed outside the container X, is lowered the spatula 305 retaining the corresponding film from the top to a position where it is in contact with the side wall of the container X. Simul5 simultaneously the corresponding pair of wrapping arms 303 and the corresponding pair of follower arms 304 move sequentially from the open position to the closed position to surround the container X, the film F

  located inside the recess 302 and surrounding the recipient X in the holder 301 then wrapping this container.

  The opposite ends of the film F are superimposed and also cover the spatula 3050. An adhesive is applied to them and clamped by means of a pressing head which applies the superposed ends of the film F to the spatula 305. In this way, the film F completely covers the container, its superposed ends being welded to each other,

  then the container and its film tube are removed from the corresponding recess 302 of the slide 301 and then transported to the next processing station which is located outside the assembly 300 of the turntables.

  It has subsequently been found that this known machine poses a problem in that, when the wrapping arms 303 of each pair are pivoted to their closed position to surround the corresponding container X and the wrapper film, the opposite ends of the latter are often superimposed longitudinally displaced relative to the container X and / or are released. In addition, it is necessary for each spatula 305 to retain the film to move up and down in coordination with the movements of the corresponding arms of wrapping, and this poses a problem in that this not only renders the structure-of the complicated machine, but still prevents to achieve

  dressing at a high speed.

  Also, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate these problems and to provide an improved cladding machine which is able to surround the objects of a film without risk of movement of the ends. 300 denotes a set of rotating plates can be driven in the direction of the arrow around a support shaft 400 for transporting containers X one by one from a station 5 for bringing objects and to this station. The reference numeral 301 designates a plurality of object holders mounted on the periphery of the assembly 300 of the rotating plates being regularly spaced at the periphery of the latter, each of the door objects 301 having a recess 302 for receiving the corresponding container X. Marker 303 denotes a pair of wrapping arms carried by each holder-object 301 so as to be pivotable between open and closed positions and capable of winding the film F around the corresponding container X which is housed at that moment in time. FIG. 304 denotes a pair of follower arms movably mounted on each object-holder 301 and capable of assisting the winding of the film in cooperation with the corresponding arms 303. Marker 305 denotes a film support spatula that is associated with each slide 301 and can be maintained.

  in contact with the side wall of the corresponding container X.

  This machine also includes a not shown cam mechanism which allows all pairs of wrapping arms 303 and all pairs of follower arms 304 to move successively between the open and closed positions during the rotation of the assembly. 300 of the turntables around the support shaft 400 along a special processing station, and which also allows all the film-retaining spatula 305 to move up and down in synchronism with the movements of the corresponding pair of wrapping arms between the

open and closed positions.

  This machine operates in the following manner, assuming that the heat-shrinkable film F is introduced into the empty recess 302 of the corresponding door-object 301, and that the corresponding container X is then brought into

superimposed of this film.

  Another important object of the present invention is to provide a. an improved machine of this type which is perfectly reliable during its operation and which is able to process objects at high speed to wrap them with a film. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this kind which is susceptible

  to treat objects of any shape, provided they can stand on a surface without outside help.

  For these purposes, the machine according to the invention, according to an advantageous embodiment, comprises a set of rotating plates rotatably mounted in one direction around a support shaft and movable to and from a station 15 of feeding objects along a film supply station and an item delivery station, during a complete rotation, all these stations being arranged in the vicinity of the periphery of the set of rotating plates; a plurality of object holders mounted at the periphery of the plurality of turntables so as to be rotatable therewith about one support shaft, said carriers being evenly spaced from each other in the direction of circumferential circumferential of all turntables, and each doorobject being capable of carrying the corresponding object to transport it from the supply station objects to the delivery station to a device for bringing objects disposed at the station for bringing objects to bring them one by one on the corresponding doorobjects all of the turntables when this set, during its rotation, arrives at the station 30 for feeding the objects D and a film retaining member for

  each holder mounted in the vicinity of the latter so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the support shaft between resting and working positions and can also move parallel to the support shaft between high and low positions.

  The film retaining member comprises suction orifices arranged on at least two leading and driven rows, the latter being spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance in the direction of rotation of the retaining member. of the film. The suction inlet row is likely to retain the driving end of the corresponding film under the effect of a suction force, while the suction suction row is likely to retain the end. conducted the corresponding film under the effect of a suction force. The film retainer may rotate about the corresponding object on the object holder from its rest position to its work position, but only when it has been moved from its

  low position to its high position, and after this movement.

  This dressing machine also comprises a film supply device arranged at the film supply station to bring the film to the corresponding film retaining member each time the set of rotating plates is brought to the position of feeding film, this film retaining member being moved from its lower position to its upper position upon arrival of the turntable assembly to the film supply station, so that the driving end of the film can be sucked by the suction suction row by the suction force, the film whose driving end is thus sucked by the suction suction row being wrapped externally around the suction pipe. corresponding object when the film retaining member rotates from its rest position to its working position, the film being completely wrapped around the corresponding object, part of this adjacent film at its driven end being sucked by the driven row of suction ports, which allows this driven end to be superimposed on the leading end; a heating device which is provided for each slide and which is carried by the plurality of turntables so as to be movable between retracted and protruding positions in a direction against the corresponding object mounted on its holder and away from it, the corresponding heater being moved from its retracted position to its projecting position in unison with the displacement of the film retainer from its rest position up to its working position, this heating device, when it is moved to its projecting position, being pressed against the corresponding film-retaining member, the superposed ends of the film being then welded by melting around the object to form a film tube; and an exit device of the objects disposed at the delivery station for removing one by one the objects and their film tube corresponding slides when the set of rotating plates, continuing to turn, is brought to the post

output of objects.

  Preferably, the film retaining member comprises a film retaining spatula which has an internal recess capable of being placed in communication with a vacuum source, the rows leading and the suction ports being in communication with the hollow in question on a surface of the spatula which is turned in one direction

opposite to the corresponding object.

  Advantageously, this film retaining spatula comprises a pair of plates having the general shape of a strip which are interconnected facing each other, one of these plates having at least one recess, while the other plate comprises the rows of suction ports, the recess in question constituting the hollow specified above when the plates are assembled together. In this machine, when all of the rotatable turntables arrive at the film supply station, the film retainer moves from its down position to its up position so as to be ready for operation. receive the corresponding film. At this time, the driving row 35 of the suction ports of the film retainer is aligned with the driving end of the film and grasps it under the effect of the suction force, thereby removing the film from the film. feeding the film when the retaining member, which is in the up position, rotates from its rest position to its working position. The film thus removed from the feed, when the rotation of the retaining member towards its working position continues, wraps around the corresponding object until its portion adjacent to its driven end is sucked by the row led suction ports formed in the film retainer. When this occurred, and the film retainer thus rotated 360 degrees to its position of

  work, the led end of the film covers its leading end, the rest of the film surrounding the corresponding object.

  When the set of turntables continues to rotate from the film supply station to the exit station, and after the film retainer has rotated to its working position, the superposed ends of the film are fused to complete the film tube around the container. According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the dressing machine described above further comprises a plurality of superposable members in the form of blades for each film retaining member whose shape is similar to that of this body. These superimposable members can move with the corresponding film retaining member, but they are maintained in superimposed or folded position when the latter is in the low position and also in the rest position. These superimposable members are deployed when the corresponding film-retaining member moves from its rest position to its working position around the corresponding object, and when deployed are spaced apart from each other. of

  the other in the circumferential direction of the corresponding object to support the film which is wrapped around this object.

  The wrapping machine according to this second embodiment operates in a substantially identical manner to that of the first embodiment. However, the complementary use of the superimposable members has the effect that, even if each object has, for example, a bulging or bulging body outwardly and a thin neck whose diameter gradually decreases from the body, the film around it can be supported by the stackable members that are deployed at the moment and, by

  of regularly spaced consequences, without collapsing despite its flexibility, which allows this film to have a substantially cylindrical shape around the object.

  According to a third advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a drum can be used as the film retaining member. A drum is provided for each slide, and is mounted in the vicinity of the corresponding object holder so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the support shaft between rest positions.

  and work and can also move parallel to the support shaft between high and low positions.

  As in the preceding case, this drum comprises suction ori fi ces arranged in two rows at least, leading moonG and the other led, which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the circumference of the drum. These leading and led rows retain respectively-under the effect of the suction force the driving and leading ends of the film. The drum specified above can rotate around the corresponding object that is placed on the

  object from its rest position to its working position, but only when it has been moved from its low position to its upper position, and after this movement.

  In the machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention the film wraps around each object the film retaining drum being placed between the latter and the object, however, after the superposed ends of the film have fused together, the drum is removed from its high position to its low position, leaving the finished film tube surrounding the object, in any case the single film retainer or drum according to the invention. The invention makes it possible to form the film tube around the corresponding object without the risk of the superimposed ends of the film moving longitudinally relative to the article, as was the case in prior clothing machines. If these superimposed ends move during welding and if the film tube thus formed is then subjected to a contraction heat treatment to fit the shape of the object, not only will the object be reattached. sultant is not aesthetic, but there should be an extension of rehabilitation to cut a portion of each side edge of the film

  adjacent to one of the opposite ends which has moved outwardly relative to the other.

  In addition, the use of the superposable members of the second embodiment of the invention is advantageous in that the film which surrounds the corresponding object can not collapse. Accordingly, in the case where the object to be treated is, for example, a container made of a magnetizable metallic material or a synthetic resin, and in the case where electrostatic attraction tends to occur between the container and the which surrounds it or is surrounding it, the latter is thus maintained by the superposable members, so that the film tube which is subsequently formed may have a

generally cylindrical shape.

  It should be noted that the film-retaining drum which is used in the machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention fulfills a dual role, namely a combination of the role played by the

  retaining the film and that filled by the stackable organs.

  The following description, which does not present

  no limiting character, will allow a good understanding of how the present invention can be put into practice. It must be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or the same functions having been designated by the same reference, and among which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a dressing machine according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; - Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the dressing machine shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of one of the film holding spatulas used in the wrapping machine shown in Figure 1; FIG. 4 (a) is a schematic top view of a turntable assembly used in the wrapping machine of FIG. 1, this view, which is partially shown in section, showing the succession of phases during each of which is rotated around the corresponding container during rotation of the tray; - Figure 4 (b) is a view. schematic side showing the succession of phases of wrapping by the film in temporal relationship with that of Figure 4 (a); Fig. 5 is a schematic side view showing an example in which the film wrapped around the corresponding container is subjected to heat treatment which allows it to retract. Figs. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are views. analogous to those of Figs. 4 (a) and 4 (b), respectively, and show the operation of a film wrapping machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) are views similar to those of FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), respectively, and show the operation of a film wrapping machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a film holding drum which is used in the machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and: FIG. 9 is a top view, partial and

  schematic, of a dressing machine according to the prior art.

  We will first describe, with regard to the figures-

  4, a first preferred embodiment of a film wrapping machine 10 according to the present invention, that is to say a machine which can automatically wrap with objects respective articles which are Examples of the cylindrical containers X. The dressing machine which is shown in these figures comprises a rotating assembly 10 15 which can transport the cylindrical containers M 'to be wrapped. This rotating assembly 10, during a complete revolution which is executed in a manner described below, can move to a receiving station of the objects, and from this station, along a plurality of processing stations. comprising an object delivery station, all these stations being located in the vicinity of the rotating assembly 10 and to

  the outside of the latter in the radial direction.

  The rotating assembly 10 comprises a vertical support shaft 11 which is rotatably mounted on a suitable support 25 such as for example a frame and upper, 12, intermediate, 13 and lower circular trays 14, which are mounted rigidly on the support shaft 11 so as to be rotatable with the latter in horizontal planes and which are spaced from each other in the axial direction of the support shaft 11. Although this can be supported by In any other way, such as by means of one or more frames, it comprises, in the embodiment shown, a lower end rotating in a manner through, for example, ball bearings 35. intermediate turntable 13 has on its periphery a plurality of circular recesses 17 which are, for example, six in number, and which are regularly

  spaced from each other on the circumference of the turntable 13.

  The dressing machine also comprises supports for the objects whose number is equal to that of the circular recesses 17 of the intermediate turntable

  13, which are generally designated by the reference numeral 30.

  All these object supports 30 are identical, and each of them comprises a receiver block 31 mounted rigidly by its opposite ends on the upper 12 and lower 13 rotating plates, and a rotating foot 32 intended to serve

  support for the corresponding cylindrical container X.

  The rotating foot 32 of each object support 30 is rotatably mounted in the corresponding circular recess 17 of the intermediate turntable 13 by any conrenable bearing 34 which allows it to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the shaft. It supports and around an axis parallel to the latter. For reasons which will become apparent thereafter, each rotating leg 32 has an aperture 35 which is generally arcuate, extending through the entire thickness of the foot and forming a passage through which can move,

  parallel to the support shaft 11, a corresponding spatula 50 for holding the film.

  Each receiving block 31, on its surface which is directed radially outwardly of the intermediate turntable 13, has a recess oriented towards the interior of this plate 13 and which defines a space 36 whose general shape is that of a U, which opens radially outwardly of the intermediate turntable 13 and which is curved so as to follow the curvature of the section of each container X to be processed by the machine. When such a container X is placed on the corresponding rotating foot 32, as will be described later, its outer peripheral wall may be partially received by the curved space 36 In addition, each 3M receiver block has a vertical slot 37 predetermined width which opens in its wall in a radial direction relative to the intermediate turntable 13 by defining a radial passage for a corresponding pressing head 171 which will be described later. It should be noted, however, that each pressing head 171 can move between a radially inward retracted position in which this head is retracted out of the corresponding slot 37, and a projecting position in which it is brought into contact with the

spatula 50 holding the film.

  As best seen in Figure 3, each holding spatula 50 includes a generally rectangular plate 53 having a plurality of rows of suction ports. These last are, for example, two in number, 51 and 52, and they are directed in the direction of the length of the plate 53. Each spatula 50 also comprises an inner plate 55 of shape similar to that of the outer plate 53 which has a surface adjacent to the latter provided with a recess 54 of generally U-shaped. The outer 53 and inner 55 plates are bent around an axis parallel to the direction of their length 20 so as to follow the curvature of the section of the cylindrical container X, and they are connected to each other face to face by means of a plurality of unrepresented screws which pass through holes 56 of the outer plate 53 and which are screwed into the inner plate 55. When these plates are Thus assembled, the portions of the U-shaped recess 54 which correspond to the wings of the "U" are aligned with the corresponding rows 51 and 52 of the suction ports. For reasons that will become clear in the rest of the

  description, the U-shaped recess 54 of the spatula of

  50 is connected to a vacuum source by a suitable pipe and with the interposition of a valve capable of interrupting and return at will the arrival of the vacuum to the

holding spatula.

  It should be noted here that instead of using rows of suction ports 51 and 52, it would be possible to employ at least one slot for each of the portions of the recess 54 which corresponds in position to the wings of the "U"

formed by this recess.

  The spatula 50 which retains the film is rigidly mounted on a hollow shaft 70 having an axial passage 71 which forms a path 'through which the U-shaped recess 54 is placed in communication with a source of vacuum not shown. More specifically, the holding spatula 50 has a perforation 57 defined in its inner plate 55 and in communication with the U-shaped recess 54, and is fixed at its lower end to a connecting member 72 which has an internal passage 73 and quimet in communication the perforation 57 and an end of the passage 73. In turn, the connecting member 72 is rigidly mounted on the upper end of the hollow shaft 70, the opposite end of the passage 73 communicating with the axial passage 71 of the hollow shaft 70. In order to fix the spatula 50 for holding the film to the connection member 72, two screws are passed through holes 58 which the outer 53 and inner 55 plates have,

  as seen in Figure 3, and screwed securely onto the connecting member 72.

  The hollow shaft 70 of each rotating leg 32 which supports the corresponding cylindrical container X is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis, and it can also move axially between a high position and a low position. For this purpose, a tubular guide is used which includes an outer drum 91 fixedly mounted on the lower turntable 14 so as to extend through the entire thickness of the latter in alignment with the corresponding circular recess 17 of the tray intermediate turn 13, and an inner drum 93 coaxially housed in the outer drum 91 rotatable relative thereto and being held in position in the latter by a plurality of bearings 92. The hollow shaft 70 can slide axially in the inner drum 93, and it can rotate with the latter because its periphery comprises at least one axial groove in which engages a corresponding key 94 35 integral with the inner drum 93. The connection between the lower end of the inner drum 93 hollow shaft 70 with the vacuum source (not shown) is produced by means of a flexible tube (15) one end of which is connected to the lower end of the hollow shaft 70 by means of a rotary joint of any known type that allows the rotation of the hollow shaft 70 relative to the seal 75 while maintaining the passage of the fluid. In order to be able to move the hollow shaft up and down between its high and low positions, for reasons which will be explained later, a drum cam 100 is fixedly mounted on the base support of the machine 10 while being coaxial with the support shaft 11, and its top has a cam surface 101 whose predetermined profile makes it possible to move the hollow shaft up and down during rotation of the set of rotating plates 10, as well as this will be described later. The lower end of each hollow shaft 70 comprises a carrier block 103 which moves axially with the corresponding hollow shaft, but which can rotate relative thereto by means of one or more bearings 105, and which carries a roller 102 rotatable relative to it with a horizontal shaft 104. The roller 102 and mounted on the carrier block 103 is based on

  the cam surface 101 and it can roll on the latter during the rotation of the set of rotating plates 10.

  The carrier block 103 has a vertical guide hole 106 through which a guide rod 107 can slide, one end of which is fixed to the lower turntable 14, which makes it possible to advantageously stabilize the upward and downward movements of the carrier block 103 and, consequently, the hollow shaft 7 @, which result from the rolling of the roller 102

  on the profiled cam surface 100 as a result of the rotation of the assembly 10 of the turntables.

  The mechanism for driving the assembly 10 about the support shaft 11 comprises an externally toothed wheel which is coaxially attached to the periphery of the lower turntable 14 so as to project partially from the This mechanism further comprises a drive gear 121 mounted outside the lower turntable 14 in the vicinity of the latter, being constantly engaged with the gear wheel 120 and being driven by an electric motor. not shown through a transmission which has not been shown and which comprises a reducer. Consequently, it is clear that the rotation of the gearwheel 121 driven by the electric motor transmits its movement to the lower turntable 14 and, consequently, to the assembly 10 of the turntables which thus rotate around the ito support shaft Each hollow shaft 70 can be rotated with the inner drum 93 of the tubular guide 90 by means of a transmission shaft 130 which extends through the intermediate turntable 13 perpendicular thereto, being rotatable by relative to it, and whose upper and lower ends are rotatably mounted on the upper and lower rotating plates 12 and 14, respectively, by means of corresponding bearings 131 and 132o However, the lower end of the shaft transmission 130 protrudes downwardly relative to the lower revolving plate 14-, and it comprises a pinion sector 133 which it is secured to to give it reciprocating movements in a plane perpendicular to this transmission shaft 130o The sector pinion 133 is in turn engaged with a pinion 94 integral with the lower end of the inner drum 93, or integral part of the latter, the lower end extending outwardly from the outer drum 91, and downwardly, as seen in Figure 2o The drive shaft 130 may be driven about its longitudinal axis by a suitable mechanism not shown in directions which can be opposed in synchronism with the rotation of the set of rotating plates around the support shaft 11, so that the hollow shaft 70 can be driven enrotation danfis opposite directions around its own longitudinal axis at the same time as the inner drum 93 of the tubular guide 90 The rotation of the hollow shaft 70 -made in the manner described above ent causes a rotation of the spatula 50 which holds the film and which is rigidly mounted on the upper part of the hollow shaft 70 by the connecting member 72, as has been described above, between a rest position, in which the spatula 50 is placed on one side of the container X on the rotating foot 32 being spaced from the slot 37 in the receiving block of the corresponding object 31, as seen in Figure 2, and being generally spaced 180 of this slot 37, and a working position in which the same spatula 50 is placed in front of the slot 37. More specifically, when the hollow shaft 70 rotates about its longitudinal axis in one of the opposite directions which will be called for example "first direction", the spatula 50 moves around the longitudinal axis 15 of the cylindrical container X placed on the rotating foot 32, from the rest position to the working position in the direction opposite to acute 1 of a watch according to FIG. 1, but when this hollow shaft 70 rotates in the other direction, so in the opposite direction which will be called for example "second direction", the spature 50 moves around the longitudinal axis of the same container X on the rotating foot 32 from the working position to the position of rest in the direction of clockwise according to the

figure 1.

  For each rotating leg 32, a spatula holder 150 is placed above the turntable 12 and comprises a shaft 151 which extends through a hole 18 formed in the upper turntable 12 in a direction perpendicular thereto and which is supported by it so as to be rotatable about its own longitudinal axis by a bearing 155, and a disc 152 integral with a lower end of the shaft 151 with which it rotates. The disk 152 has on its periphery recesses directed inwardly defining a support 154 which receives the upper end of the film holding spatula 50 when the hollow shaft 70 is shifted upwards from its low position to at its high position, as will be described later. The upper end of the shaft 151 is integral with a pinion 153 which is constantly engaged with a sector pinion 134 integral with the upper end of the transmission shaft 130 and positioned above the upper turntable 12. In FIG. Accordingly, it is clear that the spatula holder 150 can rotate about the corresponding shaft 151 in synchronism with the rotation of the drive shaft 130 at the same time as the hollow shaft 70 rotates

  around its own longitudinal axis.

  As described above, the set of turntables can turn around the support shaft 11 from the receiving station of objects to the receiving station objects through the intermediate processing stations which include a station of

  distribution of objects and a dressing station by the film.

  On the latter, a film F of generally rectangular shape is rotated around each cylindrical container X, its opposite ends being superimposed on each other. These superposed ends of the corresponding film F are held in superposition by the spatula 50 for retaining or holding the film, in a manner to be described later, and subsequently they are welded together by fusion when the spatula 50 rotates from its rest position to its working position as a result of the rotation of the hollow shaft 70 which results from the rotation of the drive shaft 130. To fusion weld the ends of the film F which is generally of rectangular shape and which is rotated around the cylindrical container X with the spatula 50, a heating device generally designated by the reference 170 is used for each rotating foot 32. ' The heating device comprises, in addition to the pressing head 171 described above in relation to the receiver unit of the object 31, a heating element 172 mounted in the pressing head 171 so as to heat the said head to the temperature which is necessary to melt the film F. The heating device 170, so as to be able to move between its retracted and protruding positions in a radial direction with respect to the set of rotating plates, is supported by upper and lower connecting rods each comprising a pair of upper or lower connecting rods 178 and 179 which extend parallel to one another; shafts 173 and 174 spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to each other; the support shaft 111 extends slightly through the heater 170, their respective opposite ends projecting out of the latter upwardly and downwardly, and on the other hand the lower and upper connecting rods 178 are secured at one of their ends to the opposite ends of the shaft 173 and at the other end of the transmission shaft 1300. In the same manner, the upper connecting rods and lower 179 are integral in rotation, at one of their ends opposite ends of the shaft 174 and, at the other of their ends, a rotating shaft 175 whose opposite ends are articulated respectively on the rotating plates upper 12 and intermediate 20 by means of corresponding bearings 176 and 177. However, it should be noted that only the upper end of the rotating shaft 175 extends through the corresponding bearing 176 carried by the upper turntable 12, so as to end above the latter For construction reasons, the distance between the rotating shaft 175 and the drive shaft 130 is equal to the distance between the shafts. s 173 and 174o

  For each rotating shaft 175, a trigger lever 180 is integral with the upper end of.

  the corresponding rotating shaft 175 rotates therewith and extends from this shaft 175 in a direction perpendicular to it. The free end of the trip lever 180 carries a tripping finger <1% which It is freely inserted and engageable with an unrepresented drive mechanism which is designed to rotate the finger 181 by a predetermined angle. As a result, it is clear that when this finger 18! is rotated by the drive mechanism in a certain direction and at a predetermined angle the shaft rotates and causes the heater 17'0o to move from its retracted position to its protruding position by synchronism with the rotation of the film-retaining spatula 50 from its rest position to its working position, but when the engagement finger 181 is rotated by the same mechanism in the opposite direction and At a predetermined angle, the shaft 1a rotates and causes the heater 170 to move from its projecting position to its retracted position in synchronism with the rotation of the film holding spatula 50 from its working position to the It should be noted here that although in the previous example each of the heaters 170 used for each rotating foot 32 has been described and shown as worn. by the set of turntables, it could be placed laterally out of the perimeter 20 of the set of turntables, and in the vicinity of the turntable at the receiving station of objects, as seen on the 1, an object feeding mechanism comprises a chute 200 through which cylindrical objects X 25 are successively fed to the object receiving station, and a peripheral recess wheel 201 which is interposed between one end of the adjacent chute 200 to the set of turntables and this assembly 10 to bring one by one the cylindrical containers X on the corresponding correpositories 30. For this purpose, the recess wheel 201 is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 202 so as to partially protruding in the space between the upper 12 and intermediate turn plates 133 its periphery having a plurality of recesses 203 regularly spaced As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the recess wheel 201 rotates about the shaft 202 at a peripheral speed that is substantially equal to that of the turntable assembly so that the containers X cylinders brought along the chute 200 can be fed one by one by the recess wheel 201 on the porte5 corresponding objects, and, more precisely, on the feet

Turns 32.

  The object reception station is followed by a film supply station in which a supply device supplies each film F to the corresponding cylindrical container X 10 mounted on its rotating base 32 and transported by the assembly 10 of the turntables to the station of bringing objects. This device comprises a film feed roller 210 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 211 carried by the frame or frame of the machine, and a film feed apparatus 212 which is interposed.

  between the roller 210 and the assembly 10 of the turntables.

  The apparatus 212 includes a pair of spaced-apart drums 213 and 214 and a generally endless film feed belt 215 which is driven between the drums 213 and 214. The bend 215 is constructed to suction the film F by suction. on its outer surface which faces the set of rotating plates. One of the drums 213 and 214 is coupled to an electric motor not shown by a suitable gearbox which has not been shown, so that the belt 215 can be driven in a direction perpendicular to the support shaft 11 and corresponding to the meaning of

  rotation of the assembly 10 rotating plates.

  The film feeder just described is made in such a way that the film F supplied by the feed roller 210 during the movement of the belt 215 is sucked onto the active face thereof by A partial vacuum is conveyed to one of the cylindrical containers X which is fed to the film feeding station so that the film F can surround the corresponding container. For reasons of construction, the film feeding belt 215 is driven at a speed which is equal to the peripheral speed of the set of rotating plates, so that the film F and the corresponding cylindrical container X may be brought to the film feeding station in synchronism with each other for reasons which will become clear in the

following this description.

  An object recovery device is disposed at the delivery point of the objects, and is substantially identical to the device for supplying these objects. More specifically, it comprises a reworking recess wheel 230 identical to the feed recess wheel 201 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 231, which is supported by the frame or frame of the machine and which has a plurality recesses 232 for receiving the objects. This device also comprises a guiding chute 233 whose construction is identical to that of the chute 200 for feeding objects. As those skilled in the art will readily understand, the object retrieval device operates in a manner generally opposite to that of the object feeder. In other words, during the rotation of the recoil wheel 230, its recesses 232 are successively brought into alignment with the corresponding cylindrical objects X which are thus successively brought to the delivery station following the rotation. 10 of the round trays, and the containers X are successively taken up by the reworking recess wheel 230 and fed to the trough.

  guidance 233 which leads, for example, to an object inspection station.

  It should be noted here that, insofar as the recess wheels 201 and 230 are of identical construction in all respects, they must both be driven at the same speed. However, the present invention is not limited to the use of identical wheels 201 and 230: they may have different diameters and / or have a different number of recesses, provided that both are driven at the same time. same peripheral speed. It should also be noted that a single drive mechanism can be used for driving the recess wheels 201 and 230 and the film feeder 212. Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4, will be described. (b) the profile of the cam surface 101 of the cam drum 100. It should be noted that FIG. 4 (a) shows, in schematic top view, and partly in section, the succession of phases which starts with feeding of one of the cylindrical containers X on the rotating foot 32 corresponding to the set of rotating plates, and which finishes when such a container X has been completely wrapped in the film F, while Figure 4 (b) illustrates the same sequence of phases for schematic side, as well as

  the profile of the surface of the cam 101.

  Assuming that, as in FIG. 1, the set of rotating plates rotates counterclockwise about the support shaft 11, p and when one of the object carriers 30 of the assembly 10 is brought into alignment with the supply station objects, the spatula holding the corresponding film 50 remains in the rest position and the corresponding hollow shaft 70 which carries the spatula 50 is held in its lower position, as shown in I in Figure 4 (b). As long as the hollow shaft 70 remains in its low position, the spatula 50 in the rest position sees its upper end located below the corresponding rotating foot 32. In this situation, the two arcuate recesses 35 of each rotating foot 32 and the corresponding retaining recess 154 of the disc 150 immediately above and in alignment with the arcuate recess 35 are exactly aligned with the film holding spatula 50 which is then held in its rest position, as this is clearly seen in Figure 4 (b) in I.

  As further seen at I in Fig. 4 (a), the corresponding heater 170 is held in its retracted position.

  When one of the cylindrical containers X supplied one by one by the feed recess wheel 201 is mounted on the corresponding rotating foot 32 of the object carrier 30, and then aligned with the object supply station, the hollow shaft 70 begins to rise from its low position to its high position because the roller 102 rolls on a portion inclined upwards as seen in FIG. 4 (b). Simultaneously, the spatula 50 holding the film associated with the rotating foot 32 and carried by the hollow shaft 70 is lifted by passing through the arcuate recess 35 of the rotating foot 32 until it comes into place. support recess 154 of the corresponding disk 152. The upward movement of the hollow shaft 70 resulting from the rolling of the roller 102 on the upwardly inclined portion of the cam surface 101 is completed when the upper end of the film holding spatula 50 is received in the recess. 154, as described above. At the same time as the upward movement of the hollow shaft 70 ends, the film holding spatula g0 is brought into communication with the vacuum source to make the spatula 50 ready to retain the film F by suction in a manner that will be described now. When the rotation of the set of rotating platens continues, the cylindrical container mounted on the rotating foot 32 of the corresponding carrier 30 is fed to the film feed station 50. When the spatula 50 holding the film, still maintained in its resting position approaches the film supply station with the cylindrical container X, a leading end F1 of the film F fed by the film feeding belt 215 in the manner described above in alignment with a driving row sucking perforations 51 of the spatula 50 of maintaining the film0 It should be noted in this regard that the expression "leading" used above and below must be taken in connection with the direction of displacements of the belt 215 for feeding the film or the assembly 10 of the rotating plates As soon as the driving row of the suction perforations 51 is in alignment with the leading end F1 of the film F, the latter is removed from the film feed belt 215 and sucked onto the film-retaining spatula 50, as seen at II in Figs. 4 (a) and 4 (b). At this time, the row / sucking perforations 51 of the

  The spatula 50 is open to the atmosphere and operates accordingly with the driven end F2 of the same film F, as will be described later.

  At the same time that the leading end F1 of the film F is sucked onto the spatula 50 for retaining the film, as has just been said, the hollow shaft 70 in its high position 10 is driven in a certain direction to bring the spatula 50 to move from its rest position to its working position along the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft 70, at the same time as the rotating foot 32 which supports the cylindrical container X. When the spatula 50 is Thus, the film F retained by the film feed belt 215 is progressively detached from this belt 215 and rotates around the container X as seen in III in Figs. 4 (a) and 4 (b). This is made possible by the fact that the film retainer 50 passes through the arcuate recess 35 of the rotating foot 32 to be received in the support recess 154 of the disc 152 as the hollow shaft moves to its up position. and as long as it does, which allows the rotating foot 32 and the disk 152 to rotate simultaneously with the film-retaining spatula 50 rotating between its rest and working positions. It should be noted here that these positions are spaced substantially 540 about the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft 70

  for a purpose that will be described now.

  When the film-retaining spatula 50 which moves from its rest position to its working position about the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft 70 rotates substantially 360 about this axis, the driven end of Suction perforations 52 are brought into alignment with a portion of the film which is adjacent to its driven end F2 and which has rotated around the cylindrical container X, allowing the film F to be completely detached from the feed belt 215 in film, the driven end F2 is then sucked against the spatula 50 for retaining the film so as to overlap with the driving end F1 of the same film F, as seen in IV in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). In this situation, the film F thus wound around the cylindrical container has a generally tubular shape which is sufficient to surround the cylindrical container X. Then, the spatula 50 which retains the leading ends F1 and led F2 overlapping one on the other continues to move to its working position along the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft 70 to bring the overlapped ends F1 and F2 of the film in alignment with the slot 37 of the receiving block 31 of the object as seen in V on

Figures 4 (a) and 4 (b).

  At the same time that the spatula 50 holding the film 15 arrives in its working position after having completed its rotation of 540, the corresponding heating device moves from its retracted position to its projecting position to allow the head pressing member 171 protruding out of the slot 37 of the receiving block 20 of the object, so that the pressing head 171 is brought into contact with the overlapping ends F1 and F2 of the film F, as can be seen in FIG. V in Figures 4 (a) and 4 (b), with the result that these ends F1 and F2 are sandwiched between the spatula 50 retaining the film and the pressing head 171 of the heater 170. The contact of the pressing head 171 with the ends F and F of the film

  F leads to fusion welding of the latter, which gives a connection represented in VI in FIG. 4 (b).

  After forming the weld a between the overlapped ends F and F2 of the film F, the heater 170 moves back to its retracted position leaving the film in the form of a tube F surrounding the corresponding cylindrical container. X. It should be noted that in the case where the film used is of a material which is not likely to be fusion welded, an adhesive applicator may be used to deposit a layer of adhesive or adhesive. bonding agent between the overlapped ends F and F2 of the film before the displacement of the heating device 170 from its retracted position to its projecting position, so that the pressing head 171 can cooperate with the spatula 50 deretenue of the film for securely connecting said film ends F1 and F20 In this case, the pressing head may not comprise any organs

of heating.

  After the complete formation of the solder a of the film tube Fa, so when the opposing ends F1 and F2 of the film F are fusion welded, the hollow shaft 70 continues to rotate about 180 to allow the spatula 50 to retaining the film to reach its rest position, which is accompanied by the rotation of the corresponding cylindrical container X provided with the film tube Fa surrounding it, as seen in VI in Figures 4 (a) and 4 (b). Shortly before the return of the spatula 50 to its rest position, or almost in time, this spatula'S0 is cut off from the vacuum source (not shown), then the hollow shaft 70 begins to descend towards its low position, which is accompanied by a corresponding descending movement of the spatula 50 of the film retainer. Dorc, the latter in a space between the outer surface of the cylindrical container X and the film tube Fa, is withdrawn down this space as seen in VII in Figures 4 (a) and 4 (b) 0 This is made possible by the fact that the roller 102 descends along a portion of the cam surface 101 which is inclined downwards, as

we see it in Figure 4 (b).

  It is therefore easy to see that, when the set of rotating plates is passed in front of the film feeding station, the following phases are consecutively carried out: lifting of the spatula 50 for retaining the film, reception of the film F from of the belt 215 for feeding the film, wrapping the film F around the cylindrical container X, welding the overlapped ends F1 and F2 of the film F 35 thus wound around the container X, and retracting the spatula 50 for retaining the film out space between

  the container X and the film tube Fa.

  Then, and while the set of rotating plates continues to rotate about the support shaft 11, the cylindrical containers are successively presented to the delivery station o, loosely wrapped by the corresponding film tubes Fa they are supplied by the recess wheel 230 to the evacuation chute 233, each revolving foot 32 of the corresponding 30-object carrier returning to the receiving station of the objects, the trough 233 can be of any size. which type and whether or not to include a conveyor belt. The row of cylindrical containers X transported by this chute 233 arrives at a heat treatment station where they are heated one by one by any suitable heating means shown at 250 in FIG. 5 and applying, for example, a stream of hot air or radiation infrared which retracts the tubes of

Fa film and complete the dressing.

  In the previous description of a form of 2.a1

  In the present invention, cylindrical containers X have been mentioned. However, it should be noted that this machine can function satisfactorily with any type of object such as, for example, containers having the foze general of a barrel or a ball, or containers whose body is bulged and the head thinned relative to the body. With such a container 25 which will be called later "swollen container" - it may happen that the film that surrounds it does not keep its shape, because of the lack of capacity of this film to stay in shape because of its flexibility . As a result, the high-speed wrapping of films around bulged containers can be affected. This risk can be minimized by using the second or third embodiment of the present invention. These embodiments will now be described. As for FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) illustrate the succession of phases which begins with the arrival of one bulged containers Xa on the turntable 32 corresponding to the assembly 10 of the turntables and which ends with the complete dressing of the container Xa by the film. For obvious reasons of brevity,

  only the differences between the previously described embodiment and the second embodiment of Figs. 6 (a) and 6 (b) will be described in the following.

  As seen in these figures, a plurality of erectile rods in the form of blades, which are for example four in number, 61, 62, 63 and 64, and which may have a shape similar to that of the spatula 50 retaining of the film, is used for each object-holder 30 of the set of rotating plates. These blades are intended to hold the film which has been wrapped around each bulged container Xa. When the spatula 50 is held in its rest position, and as long as it remains there, regardless of the position of the hollow shaft 70, the blades 61 to 64 are folded together with the spatula 50 as if they constituted a single blade. On the other hand, these blades 61 to 64 in the folded state can move with the spatula 50 in a direction parallel to the support shaft 11. Also, as will be seen later in more detail, these blades 61 to 64 can be unfolded when the spatula 50 rotates 360 from its rest position to its working position, so that it can be placed radially outwardly of the container, being regularly spaced in the circumferential direction around the container,

  while one of said blades is kept overlapped on the spatula 50 retaining the film.

  More precisely, when one of the bulged containers Xa is brought onto the rotating base 32 of one of the object carriers 30, then aligned with the object delivery station, as shown at I in FIG. a) and 6 (b), the spatula 50 is lifted as a result of the displacement of the hollow shaft 70 from its low position to its upper position, which is

  accompanied by corresponding upward movement of the erectile blades 61 to 64 in the folded or superimposed state.

  Then, as seen in II in Figures 6 (a) and 6 (b), the leading end F1 of the film F is sucked onto the film-retaining spatula 50 which is disposed radially outwardly of the rods 61. at 64 relative to the container Xa on the rotating foot 32, as a result of the communication of the spatula 50 with a vacuum source, and almost simultaneously, the latter begins to rotate from its rest position to its position working at a speed which is synchronized with the speed of movement of the film feed belt 215, as seen in III in Figs. 6 (a) and 6 (b). After the beginning of this movement of the spatula 50, those of the erectile blades which is closest to the container Xa, and thus the stem 61, is left in a position between the belt 215 and the container Xa without

move with the spatula 50.

  After the latter has moved to its working position and has completed its rotation of 90 around the container Xa, the blade 62 which has been put in place following the rod 61 in the folded position, is left in one place spaced 90 from that where the rod 61 has been held, ie the rest position of the spatula 50, as seen in IV in Figures 6 (a) and 6 (b). Similarly, when the spatula 50 completes its rotations of 180 and 270 from its rest position, around the container Xa, as it is

  see IV and V in Figs. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the blades 63 and 64 are respectively left at spaced positions 180 and 270 from the home position.

  As has been said with respect to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the film retaining spatula 50 has completed its rotation 360, the film F fed by the film supply belt 215 is completely closed. detached from the latter, its driven end F2 being sucked onto the spatula 50, as seen in V in Figure 6 (b), thus covering its end

driving F1.

  Then, the film-retaining spatula 50 continues to rotate toward its working position without being accompanied by the movement of one or other of the blades 61 to 64 which are spaced from each other by 90 to the left in the circumferential direction of the container Xa. These blades 61 to 64 thus placed around the circumference of the container Xa and inside the film F wrapped around this container cooperate with each other to substantially prevent or minimize the deformation of portions of the film F by supporting it. Upon arrival of the film-retaining spatula 50 which holds the overlapped ends F1 and F2 of the film F, the heater 170 moves from its retracted position to its projecting position, thus supporting the pressing head on the spatula 50 to effect fusion welding of the overlapping ends F1 and F2 of the film F to complete the film tube Fa, as described above with respect to the first form

  embodiment, and as shown in Figures 6 (a) and 6 (b).

  In the embodiment shown in these figures 6 (a) and 6 (b) and described with reference to these figures, each rotating leg 32 is shown to have a diameter smaller than that of the circular path in which the spatula 50 moves between his positions of rest and work. In this case, during the rotation of this spatula, friction can occur between the outer surface of the bulged container Xa and the surrounding film. If it is desired to avoid this friction, each rotating foot 32 can be rendered. movable in rotation about and corresponding to the corresponding shaft to cause the container Xa to rotate on the foot 32After the formation of the film tube Fa, the spatula and the heater being respectively in their working positions and protruding, the communication between the spatula 50 and the vacuum source is interrupted through the passage formed in the hollow shaft 70, and the spatula 50 and the blades 61 to 64 are withdrawn towards the bottom of the annular space between the outer surface of the recess Xa and the film tube Fa. These are then fed to the heat treatment station in the manner described with respect to the previous embodiment so that the film Fa can retract under the effect of

heat and complete the dressing.

  The erectile blades 61 to 64 operating in the manner just described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are mounted on an equal amount of support rods 81, 82, 83 and 8 of FIG. so that you can move with them,

  or form an integral part thereof. These rods 81 to 84 are supported so as to be able to move between low and high positions and to rotate about the longitudinal axis 10 of the corresponding container Xa mounted on its rotating base 32.

  The displacement of the support rods 81 to 84 and, consequently, that of the erectile blades 61 to 64, is synchronized with the hollow shaft 70, while the angular displacements of the support rods 81 to 84 around the longitudinal axis of the Corresponding container Xa and, externally, around the corresponding rotating foot 32, are synchronized with the angular displacement of the spatula 50. For this purpose, and although this has not been shown, a drive mechanism and its connecting rod system associated with those associated with the spatula 50 are used to move both the erectile blades 61 to 64 as well as the

support 81 to 84.

  Instead of using the film retention spatula which has been described with respect to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5, or the erectile blades associated with a spatula of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), a cylindrical film retaining drum which will now be described with reference to Figs. 7 (a), 7 (b) and 8 may be employed. The use of this drum, which is generally indicated 50a, is advantageous in that the film wrapped around the container can be satisfactorily supported independently of the

  shape of the container that it is desired to treat in the machine.

  As seen in FIG. 7, the film retaining drum 50a has an inner length and diameter sufficient to accommodate any of the containers to be treated. As seen in Figure 8, a portion of the drum 50a has two rows of suction holes 51 and 52 on its outer surface, these rows extending axially with respect to the drum 50a. The latter is rigidly mounted on the hollow shaft 70 being coaxial with the corresponding rotating foot 32, and this, thanks to a coupling ring 72 which rotates with it. Each row of suction perforations 51 and 52 communicates with the central passage 71 of the hollow shaft 70 by means of a communication passage formed in the coupling joint 72 and a not shown passage axially extending through Wall

drum 50a.

  It should be noted that instead of the rows of suction perforations 51 and 52, slots may be used, and one or two additional rows of perforations may be formed on another portion of the outer surface of the drum 50a while being circumferentially spaced about 150 rows 51 and 52 and being shaped identically thereto, so that the film F which is then wrapped around the corresponding container 20 can be positively supported by the drum 50a by sucking a portion of the film F which is generally intermediate between its opposite ends F1 and F2 which are then sucked by the perforation rows

suction 51 and 52.

  The wrapping machine according to this third embodiment of the present invention operates in a manner substantially similar to that of the previous embodiments. More specifically, assuming that one of the containers, Xa for example, is mounted on the corresponding rotating foot 32, and then aligned with the object feeding station during the rotation of the set of turntables, as shown in FIG. see in I in Figures 7 (a) and 7 (b), the corresponding drum 50a moves upwards

  to allow the container Xa to fit into the drum 50a as shown in FIG. 7 (a).

  As the set of rotating plates continues to rotate, and the film supply station, the driving row of the suction perforations 51 in the cylindrical drum 50a in communication with the vacuum source is brought into alignment with the end. F1 leading the film F brought by the film feed belt 215 and sucks it, as seen in II in Figure 7 (b). During the rotation of the drum 50a about the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft 70, the film F which sees its driving end F1 sucked by the drum 50a as just said, is pulled out of the belt 215 rotating around the drum 50a as seen in III in Figures 7 (a) and 7 (b). At the moment when the drum 50a has practically finished rotating 360, the driven row 52 of the suction holes is brought into alignment with a portion of the film F which is adjacent to the driven end F 2 to draw the latter toward the drum. 50a under the effect of a suction force. Thus, as seen at IV in Fig. 7, the film Fa will have completely rotated around the drum 50a, the driven end F2 overlapping the leading end F1 of the film F. Next, the drum 50a rotates 150 more towards his working position. As it approaches, the heater 170 in its retracted position moves to its protruding position and, as the drum 50a arrives, the press head 171 of the heater 170 is pressed against the drum 50a. to perform the fusion welding of the overlapping ends F1 and F2 to complete the formation of the film tube Fa, as it is

  see V in Figures 7 (a) and 7 (b).

  After the formation of this film tube Fa, and as in all previous embodiments, the drum a is pulled down by leaving the film tube Fa in its shape where it surrounds the container Xa, and the latter wrapped by the film tube Fa is then transferred to the heat treatment station through the outlet station 35 where it is removed from the assembly 10 of the turntables by going to the outlet chute 233 by means of the recess wheel 230 It should be noted that shortly before the downward movement of the drum 50a following the formation of the film tube Fa, the communication between the vacuum source and the suction perforations 51 is interrupted.

* and 52.

  It should also be noted that instead of the cylindrical drum 50a for retaining the film, a similar drum of generally square section could be used when the

  containers to be wrapped have such a foil in section.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail in connection with its preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. who

  is defined by the appended claims.

l

Claims (5)

- CLAIMS1. Wrapping machine running movies   around objects so as to form a film tube surrounding each of these objects, characterized in that it comprises a set (10) of rotating plates rotatable about a support shaft (11), said assembly (10) being movable, during a complete rotation, to and from an object feeding station (200, 201) along a film feed station (210, 212) and a delivery station of the objects, all these stations being arranged in the vicinity of the periphery of the assembly (10) of the rotating plates A plurality of object carriers (30) mounted on the periphery of the assembly (10) of the rotating plates in such a way as to rotate with the latter around the support shaft (i), said doorways being regularly spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the assembly (10) of the turntables, each door ( 30) being capable of carrying the corresponding object (X) during the rotation of the assembly (10) of the pl rotating arches; A device for feeding ob'jets arranged at the object supply station (200,201) for bringing the objects (X) one by one onto the corresponding object carriers (30) of the set (10) of the rotating plates when the latter, during its rotation, arrives at the supply station objects; A film retainer (50 or 50a) for each carrier (30) supported adjacent thereto so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the carrier shaft (11) between rest and working and also being able to move parallel to the support shaft (11) between high and low positions, said film retaining member having sucking orifices disposed on at least two rows (51, 52) leading and conducting , the latter being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in the direction of rotation of the film retaining member (50 or 50a) 35, said sucking port leading row (51) being capable of to retain the driving end (F1) of the corresponding film (F) under the effect of a suction force, while the driven row (52) of suction ports is capable of holding the driven end (F2 ) of the corresponding film (F) under the effect of a suction force, said retaining member a film (50 or 50a) rotatable about the corresponding object (X) on the object carrier (30) from its rest position to its working position, but only when it has been moved from its position bass 10 to its high position and after this movement; A film feeder disposed at the film supply station (210, 212) for feeding the film (F) to the member. corresponding film retainer (50, 50a) each time the turntable assembly (10) is fed to the film supply station (210, 212), said film retainer (50, 50a) being moved from its low position to its up position upon arrival of the turntable assembly (10) at the film supply station, so that the leading end (F1) of the film (F) can be sucked by the driving row (51) suction ports under the effect of the suction force, the film (F) whose leading end (Fi) is sucked by the leading row (51) suction holes being wound externally around the corresponding object (X) when the film retaining member (50, 50a) is rotated from its rest position to its working position, said film (F) being completely wrapped around the corresponding object (X), a part of the film (X) adjacent to its driven end (F2) being sucked by the row conducted (52) suction ports, which allows the driven end (F2) to overlap the leading end (F1); A heater (170) which is provided for each holder (30) and which is carried by the set (10) of the turntables so as to be movable between retracted and protruding positions in a direction bringing it against the corresponding object (X) mounted on its holder (30) and away from it, said corresponding heater (170) being moved from its retracted position to its projecting position at in unison with the movement of the film retaining member (50, 50a) from its rest position to its working position, said heater (170) when moved to its position projecting, being pressed against the corresponding member (50, 50a) for retaining the film, the superposed ends (F1, F2) of the film (F) then being fused around the object (X) to form a tube of film 10 (Fa); and: an object delivery device disposed at the object exit station (230, 233) for removing one by one the objects (X) and their film tube (Fa) from the corresponding object carriers (30) when the assembly (10) rotating platens 15, continuing to rotate, are brought to the exit station of the objects (230, 233) 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said film retaining member comprises a spatula (50) for retaining the film which has an inner hollow likely to be placed in communication with a source of vacuum, said rows driving (51) and conducted (52) suction ports being in communication with said recess (54) on a surface of the spatula (50) which is turned in a   direction opposite to the corresponding object (X).   3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the film retaining spatula (50) comprises a pair of plates (53, 55) having the general shape of a strip which are connected together facing each other one (55) of said plates having at least one recess (54), while the other (53) of said plates has the rows (51,52) of the suction ports, said recess (54) forming said recess when the plates (53, 55) are assembled together.   4. Machine according to any one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized by the fact that it further comprises a plurality of plate-shaped superposable members (61 to 64) for each film-retaining member (50) whose shape is similar to that of the body (50) film-retaining member, said stackable members (61-64) being moveable with the corresponding film-retaining member (50), but held in a superimposed or folded position when the latter (50) is in the down position and also in the rest position, said superposable members (61 to 64) being deployed when the corresponding member (50) for retaining the film moves from its rest position to its working position around the object (X ) corresponding, and said superposable members (61 to 64), when deployed, being spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the corresponding object (X) to support the film (F) which is wrapped externally around the corresponding object (X); in that said film retainer (50) moves with said stackable members (61 to 64) between its low and high positions; and in that the film (F) rotates with the corresponding object (X) which is in contact with said superposable members (61 to 64) 5. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said film retaining member is a drum (50a).