Horizontal wrapper with a side seal attachment

Apparatus for continuously wrapping articles comprising:

• (a) conveyor means for transporting a plurality of like articles along a generally horizontal path with predetermined spacing between longitudinally adjacent successive articles;
• (b) a first station along said path having means for continuously forming a longitudinally extending tubular overwrap circumferentially about said articles from a continuous film as said articles pass through said station and including means for adhering together free side edge portions of said overwrap in an area alongside each of said articles and trimming away excess film;
• (c) a second station along said path having means for cross sealing and separating said tubular overwrap between adjacent successive articles, and
• (d) a third station along said path having means for subjecting each said successive separately packaged article to predetermined elevated temperatures so that said film is heat shrunk about each said article, said first station comprises a side seal and trim unit which is vertically and horizontally adjustable to rest alongside articles passing through said station, and a seal mechanism thereof being approximately centered along a thickness of the articles, said side seal and trim unit being comprised of two jaws, one being a lower jaw, the jaws being hingedly fixed to one another at one end thereof and being separable at an opposite end thereof, and means for selectively closing and opening the separable opposite ends of the jaws.

Apparatus for continuously wrapping articles comprising:

• (a) conveyor means for transporting a plurality of like articles along a generally horizontal path with predetermined spacing between longitudinally adjacent successive articles;
• (b) a first station along said path having means for continuously forming a longitudinally extending tubular overwrap circumferentially about said articles from a continuous film as said articles pass through said station and including means for adhering together free side edge portions of said overwrap in an area alongside each of said articles and trimming away excess film, said first station comprises a side seal and trim unit which is vertically and horizontally adjustable to rest alongside articles passing through said station, a seal mechanism thereof being approximately centered along a thickness of the articles;
• and
• (c) a second station along said path having means for cross sealing and separating said tubular overwrap between adjacent successive articles;
• (d) said side seal and trim unit being comprised of two jaws, one being a lower jaw, the jaws being hingedly fixed by a hinge to one another at one end thereof and being separable at an opposite end thereof, and means moving the jaws on said hinge for selectively closing and opening the separable opposite ends of the jaws, the jaws being positioned so as to extend generously at right angles to said means for cross sealing and separating said tubular overwrap between adjacent successive articles.