Apparatus for wrapping products with plastic film

An apparatus (1) for wrapping products with plastic film (50), the apparatus comprising:

• a frame (2) that mounts a ring-shaped element (3) supporting a carriage (4) that moves around the ring-shaped element (3);
• drive means (5) for moving the ring-shaped element (3) relative to the group (P) of products to be wrapped along a wrapping axis;
• main motor means (6) associated to the ring-shaped element (3) and designed to drive the carriage (4) around the group (P) of products;
• the carriage (4) mounting a roll (7) of plastic film (50) and a pre-stretching unit (8) driven by suitable drive means (9);
• the pre-stretching unit (8) comprising a pair of film (50) pre-stretching rollers (10), located close to a roll (7) mounting shaft (11), and at least one transmission and control roller (12) that swings towards and away from the group (P) of products and is designed to start or stop film (50) feed, through the drive means (9), according to its position relative to the group (P) of products to be wrapped, the apparatus being characterised in that the drive means (9) comprise a kinematic chain consisting at least of the following:
• the main motor means (6) for rotating the carriage (4);
• a ring-shaped, continuous drive take-off track (13) for the pre-stretching unit (8) drive means (9) which comprise an engage/release unit (14) connected to and controlled by the transmission roller (12) and designed to transmit drive from the ring-shaped track (13) to the pair of pre-stretching rollers (10) according to the position of the transmission roller (12) relative to the group (P) of products to be wrapped.