Packaging machine for lollipops

Abstract

Packaging machine for lollipops ( 1 ), comprising a drum ( 8 ) having a stationary, fixed drum part and having a drum part that is rotatable ( 50 ) with respect thereto and includes a series of stick holders ( 20 ), a supply for the lollipops towards the stick holders and a supply for packaging material for the lollipops, a discharge for discharge of packaged lollipops away from the drum, wherein the drum ( 8 ) is furthermore provided with means for relatively moving the stick holder and the sheet of packaging material in a first trajectory in order to let said sheet envelop the lollipop head, wherein the rotatable drum part ( 50 ) is furthermore provided with a diaphragm ( 31 ) at every stick holder, in which the head moves through the opening defined by the diaphragm ( 31 ), wherein the diaphragm is furthermore provided with means for sealing the packaging material, wherein the drum is furthermore provided with first adjustment means ( 61, 65 ) for pre-adjusting means ( 61, 65 ) for pre-adjusting the size of the opening of the diaphragm.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A packaging machine for lollipops, the lollipops each having a stick and a head, comprising:
 a drum having a fixed drum part and a rotatable drum part including a series of stick holders;   a supply for the lollipops;   a supply for packaging material for the lollipops;   a discharge for discharge of packaged lollipops;   wherein the packaging material supply is adapted for consecutively bringing a sheet of packaging material in front of the lollipop heads;   wherein the drum is further provided with means for relatively moving the stick holder and the sheet of packaging material in a first trajectory on the drum in order to let said sheet envelop the lollipop head;   wherein the rotatable drum part is further provided with a diaphragm at every stick holder, said diaphragm being positioned at the side of the sheet of packaging material facing away from the lollipop head in order to dispose said sheet around the head in said relative movement of the stick holder and said sheet of packaging material, in which the head moves through an opening defined by the diaphragm;   wherein the diaphragm is further provided with means for sealing the packaging material at or near the location of the transition of the head to the stick in a second trajectory on the drum; and   wherein the drum is further provided with first adjustment means for pre-adjusting the size of the opening of the diaphragm at the location of the first trajectory.   
   
   
       28 . The packaging machine of  claim 27 , wherein the diaphragm comprises two diaphragm arms, which can be moved towards and away from each other and are provided with sealing elements. 
   
   
       29 . The packaging machine of  claim 28 , wherein the two diaphragm arms are coupled with each other for simultaneous rotation. 
   
   
       30 . The packaging machine of  claim 27 , wherein the diaphragm is provided with an operation part for determining and altering the opening of the diaphragm during rotation of the rotatable drum part, wherein the fixed drum part at least in the first trajectory is provided with a first curve track for guiding and moving the operation part during rotation of the rotatable drum part, wherein the first adjustment means comprises means for adjusting the mutual position of the operation part and the first curve track. 
   
   
       31 . The packaging machine of  claim 30 , wherein the first adjustment means are adapted for adjusting the position of the first curve track on the fixed drum part. 
   
   
       32 . The packaging machine of  claim 31 , wherein the operation part is adapted for during radial outward movement reducing the opening, wherein the first curve track is situated at the radial outside of the operation part. 
   
   
       33 . The packaging machine of  claim 32 , wherein the operation part at the radial inside is free from the first curve track, wherein the diaphragm is biased towards a smaller position of the opening. 
   
   
       34 . The packaging machine of  claim 30 , wherein the first curve track is formed on a bent strip-shaped plate extending in circumferential direction of the fixed drum part, wherein the plate is provided with a first guide edge for the operation part, wherein the first adjustment means are adapted for adjusting the radial position of the first guide edge. 
   
   
       35 . The packaging machine of  claim 30 , wherein the first curve track is succeeded by a second curve track with a second guide edge for engaging the operation part in order to keep the diaphragm in the sealing position in the second trajectory. 
   
   
       36 . The packaging machine of  claim 35 , wherein the second curve track is situated at the radial inside of the operation part. 
   
   
       37 . The packaging machine of  claim 36 , wherein the operation part at the radial outside is free from the second curve track. 
   
   
       38 . The packaging machine of  claim 35 , wherein the second curve track is formed on a curve plate having a guide edge for the operation part which coincides with an arc of a circle that is concentric with the drum centre line. 
   
   
       39 . The packaging machine of the  claim 35 , wherein the position of the second curve track is adjustable in a circumferential direction. 
   
   
       40 . The packaging machine of  claim 39 , wherein the second curve track is adjustable. 
   
   
       41 . The packaging machine of  claim 40 , wherein the drum comprises an axle, wherein the curve plate at one side of the axle is hinged to a coupling plate, wherein the coupling plate and the curve plate at another side of the axle are connected to each other by means of a bar, wherein the coupling plate is adjustably attached to the fixed drum part. 
   
   
       42 . The packaging machine of  claim 41 , wherein a spring element is arranged on the bar for urging the curve plate radially to the outside, wherein the bar is provided with a stop for the radial outward movement of the curve plate. 
   
   
       43 . The packaging machine of  claim 30 , wherein the first curve track changes into a third curve track, provided with a third guide edge for the operation part in order to close the diaphragm, furthermore comprising second adjustment means for adjusting the position of the third guide edge in circumferential direction of the drum. 
   
   
       44 . The packaging machine of  claim 43 , wherein between the third and second curve track an overlapping intermediate trajectory is formed in which the diaphragm is closed and in which a passage is formed having a width substantially corresponding to the thickness of the stick. 
   
   
       45 . A packaging machine for lollipops, the lollipops each having a stick and a head, comprising:
 a drum having a fixed drum part and a rotatable drum part including a series of stick holders;   a supply for the lollipops;   a supply for packaging material for the lollipops;   a discharge for discharge of packaged lollipops;   wherein the packaging material supply is adapted for consecutively bringing a sheet of packaging material in front of the lollipop heads;   wherein the drum is further provided with means for relatively moving the stick holder and the sheet of packaging material in a first trajectory on the drum in order to let said sheet envelop the lollipop head;   wherein the rotatable drum part is further provided with a diaphragm at every stick holder said diaphragm being positioned at the side of the sheet of material facing away from the lollipop head in order to dispose said sheet around the head in said relative movement of the stick holder and said sheet of packaging material, in which the head moves through an opening defined by the diaphragm;   wherein the diaphragm is further provided with means for sealing the packaging material at or near the location of the transition of the head to the stick in a second trajectory on the drum;   wherein the diaphragm is provided with operation means for changing the size of the opening in the diaphragm during the circulation of the rotatable drum part, wherein the operation means comprise an operation part;   wherein the fixed drum part is provided with a curve track for the operation part; and   wherein the drum is further provided with first adjustment means for adjusting the radial position of the curve track for the operation part.   
   
   
       46 . The packaging device of  claim 45 , wherein the adjustment means are operative on the curve track at the location of the first trajectory. 
   
   
       47 . The packaging device of  claim 45 , further comprising a second adjustment means for adjusting the circumferential position of the curve track. 
   
   
       48 . A packaging machine for lollipops, the lollipops each having a stick and a head, comprising:
 a drum having a fixed drum part and a rotatable drum part including a series of stick holders;   a supply for the lollipops towards the stick holders;   a supply for packaging material for the lollipops;   a discharge for discharge of packaged lollipops;   wherein the packaging material supply is adapted for consecutively bringing a sheet of packaging material in front of the lollipop heads;   wherein the drum is further provided with means for relatively moving the stick holder and the sheet of packaging material in a first trajectory on the drum in order to let said sheet envelop the lollipop head;   wherein the rotatable drum part is further provided with a diaphragm at every stick holder, said diaphragm being positioned at the side of the sheet of packaging material facing away from the lollipop head in order to dispose said sheet around the head in said relative movement of the stick holder and said sheet of packaging material, in which the head moves through an opening defined by the diaphragm;   wherein the diaphragm is further provided with means for sealing the packaging material at the location of the transition of the head to the stick in second trajectory on the drum; and   wherein the drum is further provided with adjustment means for pre-adjusting the moment of closing the opening of the diaphragm consecutive to the first trajectory.   
   
   
       49 . A packaging machine for lollipops, the lollipops each having a stick and a head, comprising:
 a rotatable drum including a series of stick holders;   a supply for the lollipops towards the stick holders;   a supply for packaging material for the lollipops towards the drum;   wherein the packaging material supply is adapted for consecutively bringing a sheet of packaging material in front of the lollipop heads;   wherein the drum is further provided with means for relatively moving the stick holder and the sheet of packaging material in a first trajectory on the drum in order to let said sheet envelop or surround the lollipop head;   wherein the rotatable drum is further provided with a diaphragm at every stick holder, said diaphragm being positioned at the side of the sheet of packaging material facing away from the lollipop head in order to dispose said sheet around the head in said relative movement of the stick holder and said sheet of packaging material, in which the head moves through the opening defined by the diaphragm;   wherein the diaphragm is further provided with means for in a second trajectory on the drum sealing the packaging material at the location of the transition of the head to the stick; and   wherein the drum is further provided with first adjustment means for pre-adjusting the size of the opening of the diaphragm at the location of the first trajectory.   
   
   
       50 . A packaging machine for lollipops having a stick and a head, comprising:
 a rotatable drum including a series of stick holders;   a supply for the lollipops towards the stick holders;   a supply for packaging material for the lollipops towards the drum, wherein the packaging material supply is adapted for consecutively bringing a sheet of packaging material in front of the lollipop heads;   wherein the drum is further provided with means for relatively moving the stick holder and the sheet of packaging material in a first trajectory on the drum in order to let said sheet envelop or surround the lollipop head;   wherein the rotatable drum is further provided with a diaphragm at every stick holder, said diaphragm being positioned at the side of the sheet of packaging material facing away from the lollipop head in order to dispose said sheet around the head in said relative movement of the stick holder and said sheet of packaging material, in which the head moves through an opening defined by the diaphragm;   wherein the diaphragm is further provided with means for sealing the packaging material at the location of the transition of the head to the stick in a second trajectory on the drum;   wherein the diaphragm is provided with operation means for changing the size of the passage in the diaphragm during the circulation of the rotatable drum part, wherein the operation means comprise an operation part;   wherein the drum is provided with a fixed curve track for the operation part; and   wherein the drum is further provided with first adjustment means for adjusting the radial position of the curve track for the operation part.   
   
   
       51 . A packaging machine for lollipops, the lollipops each having a head and a stick, comprising:
 a drum having a fixed drum part and a rotatable drum part including a series of stick holders;   a supply for the lollipops;   a supply for packaging material for the lollipops;   a discharge for discharge of packaged lollipops;   wherein the packaging material supply is adapted for bringing a sheet of packaging material in front of the lollipop heads;   wherein the drum is further provided with means for relatively moving the stick holder and the sheet of packaging material in a first trajectory on the drum in order to let said sheet envelop the lollipop head;   wherein the rotatable drum part is further provided with a diaphragm at every stick holder, said diaphragm being positioned at the side of the sheet of packaging material facing away from the lollipop head in order to dispose said sheet around the head in said relative movement of the stick holder and said sheet of packaging material, in which the head moves through an opening defined by the diaphragm;   wherein the diaphragm is further provided with means for in second trajectory on the drum sealing the packaging material at the location of the transition of the head to the stick; and   wherein the drum is further provided with adjustment means for pre-adjusting the moment of closing the opening of the diaphragm consecutive to the first trajectory.