a wrapping machine of the horizontal form , fill and seal type , in which a continuously moving web strip is formed into a tube of thermoplastic material , has introduced therein a file of longitudinally spaced articles . a transverse sealing and cutting mechanism , coordinated with the lengths of each article and with the velocity of the tube , seals and cuts the web between articles to produce individually wrapped articles . to conserve wrapping material and to produce a wrinkle - free tight wrap , there is disclosed tucking devices , cooperating with the sealing and cutting mechanism , which , in addition to tucking , creates smooth well - defined folds at the ends of each package . more particularly , the tucking devices are in one embodiment , rotated about axes located on either side of the web tube path with the speed of rotation being such that the tucking devices closely approximate the speed of the web since tucking occurs during web movement . in another embodiment , the tucking devices , while also rotated about axes located as stated above , are articulated and maintained in a fixed orientation .