Method and device for continuously wrapping products

A device for continuously wrapping products wherein it comprises, along a portion (1) of a wrapping machine equipped with a frame (4) and a wall (5), a wrapping device (6) comprising means (8;

• 16) for continuously feeding at a first defined speed (V1), along a first path (P1) and in a defined first direction (D1), a succession of products (3) and the corresponding sheets (15) of wrapping material at least partially wrapped around the products (3) to form an intermediate wrapper (2a) having a first and a second wing (37, 38) that are substantially transversal to the plane in which the first path (P1) lies, project from a surface (30) of the product (3) and are located on opposite sides of the product (3);
• a first folding device (43) that cooperates with the first and second wings (37, 38) as the intermediate wrapper (2a) and the product (3) move forward continuously along an intermediate folding portion (44) of the first path (P1) and that is designed to fold the first wing (37) towards said product (3) surface (30) and to fold the second wing (38) away from the surface (30) until it extends from the surface (30) itself in substantially the same plane;
• a gumming device (64) designed to apply an adhesive to at least one portion of the second wing (38);
• a second folding device (65) that cooperates with the second wing (38) as the intermediate wrapper (2a) and the product (3) move forward continuously along the intermediate folding portion (44) and that is designed to fold the second wing (38) towards the product surface (30) until its gummed portion comes into contact with the first wing (37).

A device for continuously wrapping products wherein it comprises, along a portion (1) of a wrapping machine equipped with a frame (4) and a wall (5), a wrapping device (6) comprising means (816) for continuously feeding at a first defined speed (V1), along a first path (P1) and in a defined first direction (D1), a succession of products (3) and the corresponding sheets (15) of wrapping material at least partially wrapped around the products (3) to form an intermediate wrapper (2a) having a first and a second wing (37, 38) that are substantially transversal to the plane in which the first path (P1) lies, project from a surface (30) of the product (3) and are located on opposite sides of the product (3);

• a first folding device (43) that cooperates with the first and second wings (37, 38) as the intermediate wrapper (2a) and the product (3) move forward continuously along an intermediate folding portion (44) of the first path (P1) and that is designed to fold the first wing (37) towards said product (3) surface (30) and to fold the second wing (38) away from the surface (30);
• a gumming device (64) designed to apply an adhesive to at least one portion of the second wing (38);
• a second folding device (65) that cooperates with the second wing (38) as the intermediate wrapper (2a) and the product (3) move forward continuously along the intermediate folding portion (44) and that is designed to fold the second wing (38) towards the product surface (30) until its gummed portion comes into contact with the first wing (37);
• the device comprising drive means (46) for moving the first folder (43) along a second path (P2);
• at least one section (45) of the second path (P2) being a section (45) for contacting and folding the first and second wings (37, 38) and substantially coinciding with the intermediate folding portion (44) of the first path (P1) so as to keep the orientation of the folding tool (43) relative to the product (3) and the corresponding intermediate wrapper (2a) constant as they move along the first feed path (P1);
• said drive means (46) being positioned and made in such a way as to move the first folder (43), at least along the contact section (45), in a second direction (D2) that substantially coincides with the first direction (D1), and at a second speed (V2) that is faster than the first speed (V1) at which the products (3) and the corresponding intermediate wrappers (2a) are moving,
• wherein the drive means (46) comprise a linkage (47) designed to move the first folder (43) along the second path (P2), which is a closed path;
• the first folder (43) traveling along the closed path (P2) according to a defined law of motion such that the first folder (43) itself moves along the second contact and folding section (45), which substantially coincides with the intermediate folding portion (44) of the first path (P1) and in such a way that the orientation of the first folding tool (43) relative to the product (3) and the corresponding intermediate wrapper (2a) remains constant,
• wherein the linkage (47) is located under the feed means (8, 16) and under the first path (P1), lies in a plane that is substantially the same plane as that which the first path (P1) lies in, and comprises a crank (48), a first end of which is linked to a first drive shaft (49) that is in turn rotatably connected to the wall (5), and a second end of which is linked to a first end of a connecting rod (51);
• and a rocker arm (53) which is linked to a point (52) half way along it, on the other side of which the connecting rod (51) has an extension (51′) whose free end is equipped with a folding tool (56) designed to come into contact with the first and second wings (37, 38);
• the rocker arm (53) being also linked to a first end of a mobile arm (54) whose second end is linked to a second drive shaft (55) that is rotatably connected to the wall (5);
• the second drive shaft (55) oscillating in such a way that the first end of the arm (54) oscillates in both directions;
• the oscillating motion of the arm (54) acting in conjunction and being synchronized with the continuous rotary motion of the crank (48) and being designed to make the folding tool (56) move along the feed portion (45) where it contacts and folds the first and second wings (37, 38) following the law of motion that is the result of combining a first movement towards the first wing (37), with a second movement, different from the first, for folding the first and second wings (37, 38), during which the folder (56) moves along the contact and folding section (45), which substantially coincides with the intermediate folding portion (44) of the first path (P1), so that the orientation of the folding tool (56) relative to the product (3) and the corresponding intermediate wrapper (2a) remains constant.