Single twist bunch wrapping machine

A wrapping machine comprising:

• means for positioning a plurality of randomly orientated objects to be wrapped;
• means for feeding said plurality of objects to said means for positioning;
• means for wrapping said plurality objects, said means for wrapping in proximity to said means for positioning;
• means for transferring said plurality of objects from said means for positioning to said means for wrapping said means for transferring in proximity to and cooperatively associating with said means for positioning and said means for wrapping;
• means for feeding paper to said means for wrapping, said means for feeding paper in proximity to said means for wrapping;
• at least one means for operatively driving said means for positioning, said means for transferring, said means for wrapping, and said means for feeding paper;
• and
• control means for selectively operating said wrapping machine;
• said means for feeding paper includes:
• a paper arm assembly for holding a paper supply;
• a gear box for operatively controlling said means for feeding paper;
• a paper roller assembly for delivering said paper to said means for wrapping;
• a paper transfer plate for temporarily supporting and guiding said paper to said means for wrapping;
• and
• a knife assembly for cutting said paper into a wrapper.

A wrapping machine comprising:

• means for positioning a plurality of randomly orientated objects to be wrapped;
• means for feeding said plurality of objects to said means for positioning;
• means for wrapping said plurality of objects, said means for wrapping in proximity to said means for positioning;
• means for transferring said plurality of objects from said means for positioning to said means for wrapping, said means for transferring in proximity to and cooperatively associating with said means for positioning and said means for wrapping;
• means for feeding paper to said means for wrapping, said means for feeding paper in proximity to said means for wrapping;
• at least one means for operatively driving said means for positioning, said means for transferring, said means for wrapping, and said means for feeding paper;
• and
• control means for selectively operating said wrapping machine;
• said means for positioning said plurality of objects is an orienteering plate comprising:
• a rotatable dial plate having a plurality of holes near an outside circumference thereof, each of said holes having a groove;
• a rotatable spread plate having a conical surface and being concentric with said dial plate;
• a support ring under said dial plate;
• and
• means for orienting said plurality of objects in said holes of said dial plate.

An apparatus for wrapping lollipops having an ellipsoidal head and a stick extending therefrom;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a housing structure;
• an orienteering plate rotatably mounted in said housing structure;
• a wrapping station including a main shaft assembly, a plurality of stick grippers and elevator assemblies, a plurality of diaphragm assemblies and a plurality of twister assemblies;
• a transfer station for transferring said lollipops from said orienteering plate to said wrapping station said transfer station including a plurality of gripper assemblies;
• a paper feed assembly for supplying wrapping paper between said plurality of stick grippers and elevator assemblies and said plurality of diaphragm assemblies of said wrapping station;
• drive means for driving said orienteering plate, said transfer station, said wrapping station, and said paper feed assembly;
• and
• control means for selectively operating said apparatus.

A method of wrapping lollipops having ellipsoidal heads and sticks comprising the sequential and continuous steps of:

• delivering a plurality of randomly positioned lollipops from a feeding and sorting hopper to an orienteering plate;
• orienting said lollipops on an orienteering plate having a dial plate with a plurality of holes and stick grooves, said lollipops being oriented with said spherical heads in said holes and said sticks in said stick grooves;
• transferring said lollipops from said orienteering plate to a wrapping station having a plurality of stick gripper and elevator assemblies, diaphragm assemblies, and twister assemblies, via a transfer station having a plurality of gripper assemblies;
• feeding wrapping paper from a paper feed assembly to said wrapping station between said stick gripper and elevator assemblies and said diaphragm assemblies;
• wrapping said lollipops;
• and
• discharging said lollipops from said wrapping station.

A wrapping station for wrapping a plurality of objects in sequence, said wrapping station comprising:

• a main shaft assembly;
• a gripper and elevator assembly rotatably mounted to said main shaft assembly;
• a diaphragm assembly rotatably mounted in said main shaft assembly;
• a twister assembly rotatably and rotationally mounted in said main shaft assembly;
• and
• means for driving said main shaft assembly;
• said gripper and elevator assembly includes a guide body and a height adjuster arm assembly slidably mounted in said guide body, said height adjuster arm assembly comprising a shaft and an arm, said shaft sliding in said guide body to selectively move said one of said plurality of objects through said diaphragm assembly and into said twister assembly to be wrapped;
• said diaphragm assembly includes a pair of claws pivotably operable to receive said one of said plurality of objects from said gripper and elevator assembly, and to hold said one of said plurality of objects during wrapping, said claws including a heating element for heat sealing a wrapper;
• said twister assembly including:
• rotatable and pivotable twistfingers having grippers, said twistfingers pivoting to receive one of said plurality of objects and rotating to twist said one of said plurality of objects and a wrapper;
• and
• a plunger for holding said wrapper to a top portion of said one of said plurality of objects.