Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping articles in film material includes a stationary frame supporting a vertically reciprocable frame which in turn supports a rotatable ring member carrying a film carriage assembly by which film is wrapped around a load during rotation of the ring member. The ring member is a cast composite ring of a thermosetting, fiberglass reinforced polyester and comprises a flange by which the ring member is supported for rotation, and a body portion on which the film carriage and slip ring members are mounted.

Abstract: A method and a machine for wrapping loads of items grouped together in a bundle that may be palletized or otherwise, by means of a stretchable film put into place around the bundle and, where appropriate, a pallet, after the film has been pre-stretched and paid out from a spool or the like on which it is stored in the pre-stretched state with an elongation value of about 150% to 500% and a tension, after relaxation, lying in the range 2 to 7, and preferably in the range 2 to 3 daN/mm.sup.2 of film section per turn.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping articles in film material includes a stationary frame supporting a vertically reciprocable frame which in turn supports a rotatable ring member carrying a film carriage assembly by which film is wrapped around a load during rotation of the ring member. The ring member is a cast composite ring of a thermosetting, fiberglass reinforced polyester and comprises a flange by which the ring member is supported for rotation and a body portion on which the film carriage and slip ring members are mounted.

Abstract: The present invention relates mainly to a wrapping method and to apparatus for implementing the method. The invention provides a method of wrapping a palletized load, the method comprising a step of depositing one or more plastic films around the palletized load, thereby covering the palletized load and closing the inlets to the pallet, the method including a step that consists in disengaging permanent passages in the film where it obstructs the inlets of the pallet for passing the forks of handling equipment. The present invention is particularly applicable to wrapping palletized loads. A main application of the present invention lies in wrapping loads that are palletized on standard pallets.

Abstract: The present invention relates mainly to an optimized method of applying an outer wrapping to a load, in particular a palettized load, and to transporting the load as wrapped by said method.A method of the invention includes the following steps:a) determining the forces that the load must be capable of withstanding and the resulting maximum acceptable deformations;b) selecting a general outer wrapping configuration as a function of the load to be wrapped, the method of transport, of handling, and/or of storage for the load, and also the available wrapping machines; andc) determining the disposition of the film to be implemented using the minimum quantity of film to achieve wrapping having the configuration as determined in step b) and capable of withstanding without dislocation or unacceptable deformation the stresses as determined in step a).

Abstract: A method and a an apparatus for the exterior packaging of a palletized load supported by a platform (2) and by at least two lateral sliding supports (11, 12) contiguous with two longitudinal edges (7) of a lower face (3) of the deck (2) of the palletized load (1)is disclosed. The lower face (3) has two transverse sides (6) for taking up the load by means of a handling device. The method includes a preliminary step of covering the palletized load with a film (20) made of a heat-shrinkable material, followed by a step of heat-shrinking the material. According to the invention, the heat-shrinking step involves, on the one hand, shrinking a return portion (23) of the film beneath the lower faces (9) of the lateral sliding supports (11, 12) and conforming the film (20) along the transverse sides (6) in order to conform the lower edge of the film so as to be substantially level with the platform (2)with is a central region (26).

Abstract: A method of packaging a load that is generally prismatic in shape in which at least one rigid protective angle strip is initially placed on at least one edge of the load. The strip is then rigidly and permanently secured to the load. An apparatus is used for grasping, displacing, depositing, and holding the protective angle strip. A protective angle strip is taken from a magazine to an edge of the load by using the apparatus, wherein the protective angle strip is held temporarily while the angle strip is simultaneously secured rigidly to the load, and once it has been rigidly secured, the apparatus is disengaged from the angle strip.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping articles in film material includes a stationary frame supporting a vertically reciprocable frame which in turn supports a rotatable ring member carrying a film carriage assembly by which film is wrapped around an article during rotation of the ring member. The ring is in the form of an outwardly open channel and is supported for rotation relative to the reciprocable frame by wheels on the latter which underlie the upper flange of the channel. The web of the channel is captured between pairs of wheels mounted on the reciprocable frame, and a wheel of one of the pairs is driven to rotate the ring relative to the reciprocable frame. The reciprocable frame is elevated and lowered relative to the stationary frame by a chain drive arrangement, and the stationary and reciprocable frames have interengaging guide components at two diametrically opposed locations.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping a load with a film of plastic material is provided having a means for supporting a load, a means for supporting a film strip reel, a first means for causing a relative pivoting movement of the film reel axis and the load support means, a second means for causing a relative pivoting movement of the film reel axis and the load support means about a second pivoting axis, and a drive means acting on the first and second means to bring about the two relative pivoting movements in order to coordinate their operation.

Abstract: A wrapping machine for wrapping a palletized load is provided with a film carriage having a spool of film. A means for unwinding the film from the spool from an upstream winding position to a downstream position in accordance with a selected path where it is applied to the load is also provided. Prestretching rollers for prestretching the film before it is applied to the load are contained on the film carriage. Cutting blades are used to pierce the film, downstream of the prestretching rollers, into longitudinally extending strips. The strips are then separated into longitudinally extending bands by a separating roller. The bands are applied to a load by the carriage which slidably moves up and down along a support column in combination with a turntable upon which the load rotates.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping the sides and one end face of a palletized load is provided with a rotatable load support means and a pivoting axis reel of film which is capable of vertical movement in a plane parallel to the vertical sides of the load as well as rotation about a second axis perpendicular to the side face of the load. The load is wrapped by attaching a terminal end of the plastic film near the bottom edge of the load and rotating the load while the film reel moves vertically and pivots about an axis perpendicular to the vertical side faces of the load until the sides and top face of the load are wrapped.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping articles in film material includes a stationary frame supporting a vertically reciprocable frame which in turn supports a rotatable ring member carrying a film carriage assembly by which film is wrapped around an article during rotation of the ring member. The ring is in the form of an outwardly open channel and is supported for rotation relative to the reciprocable frame by wheels on the latter which underlie the upper flange of the channel. The web of the channel is captured between pairs of wheels mounted on the reciprocable frame, and a wheel of one of the pairs is driven to rotate the ring relative to the reciprocable frame. The reciprocable frame is elevated and lowered relative to the stationary frame by a chain drive arrangement, and the stationary and reciprocable frames have interengaging guide components at two diametrically opposed locations.

Abstract: Method and installation for packaging a palletizable load (20), in which the constituent elements (21) of the load (20) are positioned on the pallet in several levels or layers of palletization by a palletization member, wherein :a sheet (9) of a material having non-slip properties is inserted between each level of palletization; andthe peripheral strapping of the load is carried out by a microcreped stretchable paper tape.

Abstract: A method to prevent tearing of packaging film is provided using a carriage which includes a stand, a supporting shaft for a film reel and a roller device; the carriage being intended to be incorporated in a packaging machine for wrapping loads. Plastic film is unwound from a film reel and longitudinal creases are formed on the longitudinal edges of the film web to prevent tearing of the film during packaging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping the sides and covering the top of a load. The apparatus comprises of a reel of wrapping film and a load support that can be rotated relative to each other about an axis that is coincident with the vertical axis of the load to thereby wrap the sides of the load. The film reel and the load support are further pivotable relative to each other about a second axis that is orthogonal to the load axis as well as slidable relative to each other along this second axis to thereby cover the top face of the load.

Abstract: A method for unwinding packaging film is provided for a carriage which includes a stand, a supporting shaft for a film reel and a roller device, and the carriage is intended to be incorporated in a packaging machine for wrapping loads. Plastic film is removed from a roll and is longitudinally stretched between two rollers, has its width reduced and longitudinal creases put into it, and is associated with the load to be wrapped. Between the stretching rollers and end film unwinding roller, the film passes through a slit of a creasing member which reduces the width of the film by forming longitudinally extending creases along its width. The overall width reduction of the film is controlled by controlling the longitudinal angle of the slit relative to the axis of the stretch and unwinding rollers.

Abstract: A palletized load banding machine of the fixed-table and pivoting-axis reel of film type is provided with a set of mechanisms for i) transversely cutting the band of film when activated at the end of load banding, ii) securing, temporarily, the first end part of the band of film originating from the film reel when activated at the beginning of the banding operation, and iii) combining the last end part of the band of film with the banded load when activated at the end of the banding operation. This set of mechanisms is supported by an elevating platform placed beneath the mechanisms and between the mechanisms and the level of the fixed support table to always permit the mechanism to slide vertically in a free, unrestricted space thus preventing any risk of the film interfering with the support table or conveyors for supplying and removing the palletized load during banding of the load.

Abstract: A carriage for unwinding packaging film and incorporation in a packaging machine, comprising a stand carrying a supporting shaft for a film reel and a roller device carried by the stand and comprising two main rollers including upstream and downstream rollers with parallel axes of rotation and set transversely apart but near to one another to define therebetween a passage for the packaging film having an entry orifice and an exit orifice, the two main rollers being simultaneously rotatable about their respective axes in opposite directions by drive means. Two film guide rollers including an upstream and a downstream guide roller are respectively associated with the upstream and downstream main rollers and have axes of rotation parallel to one another and to the axes of rotation of the main rollers.

Abstract: A method for banding a palletized load is provided for a fixed table machine with stationary load where the reel of film is displaced about the load and unwound as a consequence thereof to form at least one turn of the band whereupon the band of film is transversely cut, the last end part of the band of film is combined with the banded load and the new first end part of the film is secured and the banded load removed. During at least one stage of the banding, the reel of film is displaced in a path forming a horizontal loop and, in this stage, the band of unwound film is deviated and offset in the vertical direction to avoid irregular wrinkling of the film.

Abstract: In a vertical and helical banding machine having a rotary table, a carriage mounted on a mast secured to a stand is driven between upper and lower positions and has a delivery roller rotatable about a vertically stationary axis for passing the banding film to helically wrap or band the load. The carriage includes a support for changing the direction of banding film from a horizontal to a veritcal position as the film is delivered to the delivery roll. A prestretching mechanism is provided for prestretching the film prior to delivery to the carriage. The mechanism includes a horizontal vertically movable bearing roller carrying the film reel and a horizontal support roller parallel to the bearing roller and positioned beneath the film reel and supporting same whereby the lower horizontal generatrix between the reel of film and the support roller forms a constant reference to control the speed of film being unwound from the reel and in conjunction therewith acts as a prestretching mechanism.