Abstract: A system for transporting ice pieces or the like from a primary bin to one or more satellite bins is disclosed. A dispenser forms a charge of ice pieces in a precharge chamber, which is then transferred by air assist to a delivery tube. A driver member is provided to engage and move the substantially defined charge of ice pieces to the selected satellite bin. The driver member is propelled by a differential pressure within the tube. This permits the defined charge to be exposed only to the low pressure side and insulated from the high pressure propelling medium to minimize breakage and melting during delivery. Before reaching the satellite bin, the piston is reversed to shuttle back to the home position. The satellite bins are connected in series and delivery of a charge to an intermediate bin is provided by moving a tube section out of alignment with the delivery tube. Lubrication and continuous cleaning is performed by the driver member sweeping minimal residual water from melting ice.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preparing and dispensing a cool beverage and for transporting ice. The apparatus utilizes a heat exchanger for directly contacting water and ice to produce cooled heat exchanger water in the heat exchanger from the water and ice and an outflow of the cooled heat exchanger water. A beverage concentrate flows through a beverage concentrate conduit that is in thermal contact with ice. The beverage concentrate is thus cooled by indirectly contacting the ice to produce an outflow of cooled beverage concentrate. A proportioner and mixer receive the outflow of cooled heat exchanger water and the outflow of cooled beverage concentrate, and proportion and mix the outflows to produce a cool, proportioned, mixed beverage, which is dispensed from a dispensing valve.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preparing and dispensing a cool beverage utilizes a heat exchanger for directly contacting water and ice to produce cooled heat exchanger water in the heat exchanger from the water and ice and an outflow of the cooled heat exchanger water. A beverage concentrate flows through a beverage concentrate conduit that is in thermal contact with ice, preferably through direct contact with the cooled heat exchanger water. The beverage concentrate is thus cooled by indirectly contacting the ice to produce an outflow of cooled beverage concentrate. A proportioner and mixer receive the outflow of cooled heat exchanger water and the outflow of cooled beverage concentrate, and proportion and mix the outflows to produce a cool, proportioned, mixed beverage, which is dispensed from a dispensing valve.

Abstract: Stretch wrapping packaging material on a load includes introducing such wrapped packaging material onto tips of projecting portions of the first grooved rollers so that the packaging material spans the nonprojecting portions of the first grooved roller. The web of the packaging material on the first grooved roller are transported in the direction generally parallel to the grooves by powering the first grooved roller. The web of the packaging material spanning the nonprojecting portions of the first grooved roller is impinged by the tips of the projecting portions of an idling second grooved roller to stretch the sheet between the projecting portions of the first and second grooved rollers in a direction transverse to the direction in which the sheet is transported. The web is preferably separated from second grooved surface either before or simultaneous with its separation from the first grooved roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping the top and sides of a load. A web dispenser dispenses and stretches web on the direction in which it is dispensed. The load is rotated relative to the web dispenser as web is wrapped onto the load. The web dispenser is positioned in an orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load for wrapping the sides of the load, and is changed to an orientation generally parallel to the top of the load for covering the top of the load. A web supply may change orientation along with the web dispenser or may be fixed relative to the web dispenser in an orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load. When the web supply is fixed, an accumulator is provided for accumulating web. The accumulator dispenses web when the web dispenser is changing orientation and when the web dispenser is in the orientation generally parallel to the top of the load.

Abstract: A stretch wrapping machine includes a web dispenser and a rotatable support for providing relative rotation between the web dispenser and load to wrap a web of packaging material around the load. Cooperating engagement members are selectively and positively engageable with each other throughout the rotation of the rotatable support for stopping the rotation of the rotatable support when the engagement members are positively engaged and for permitting rotation of the rotatable support when the engagement members are disengaged. One of the engagement members is mounted on a rotatable support and the other is mounted on a fixed support. An actuator selectively engages engagement members. One engagement member preferably includes at least two stop units spaced at a distance less than the distance between the engageable formations of the other engagement member.

Abstract: A load of successive units stacked in a longitudinal direction has aides with junctions extending in a lateral direction between successive units. Each of the units has at least one relatively high strength area which is resistant to circumferential crushing in the lateral direction and at least one low strength area which is substantially less resistant to circumferential crushing in the lateral direction than the high strength area. A film web is dispensed from a film web dispenser and stretched along the direction in which it is dispensed. The film web collapsed into a roped configuration and successively aligned with and within selected high strength areas by moving the film web dispenser generally in the lingitudinal direction relative to the load and stopping the relatively longitudinal movement of the web dispenser and the load at times when the web is in alignment with one of the selected high strength areas.

Abstract: Stretch wrapping packaging material on a load includes introducing stretch wrap packaging material onto V shaped tips of projecting portions of a first grooved roller so that the packaging material spans the nonprojecting portions of the first grooved roller. The web of packaging material and the first grooved roller are transported in the direction generally parallel to the grooves. The web of packaging material spanning the nonprojecting portions of the first grooved roller is impinged with V shaped tips of projecting portions of a second grooved roller. The tips of the projecting portions of the second grooved roller are transported at a speed which is less than the speed of the tips of the projecting portions of the first grooved roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping the top and sides of a load. A web dispenser dispenses and stretches web on the direction in which it is dispensed. The load is rotated relative to the web dispenser as web is wrapped onto the load. The web dispenser is positioned in an orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load for wrapping the sides of the load, and is changed to an orientation generally parallel to the top of the load for covering the top of the load. A web supply may change orientation along with the web dispenser or may be fixed relative to the web dispenser in an orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load. When the web supply is fixed, an accumulator is provided for accumulating web. The accumulator dispenses web when the web dispenser is changing orientation and when the web dispenser is in the orientation generally parallel to the top of the load.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a frame and a series of closely spaced rollers. Each roller has an outer circumferential surface, a first end portion journalled on an axle supported by the frame on one side of the conveyor and a second end portion journalled on an axle supported by the frame on the other side of the conveyor. The rollers include master rollers and slave rollers interpersed between the master rollers. A drive train is provided for driving every roller in the series of closely spaced rollers. The drive train includes a primary drive train for driving the master rollers and secondary drive trains for driving the slave rollers from respective master rollers. The primary drive train includes relatively large diameter high torque primary sprockets mounted on the outer circumferential surfaces of the first end portion of the master rollers and chains connecting and driving the primary sprockets.

Abstract: A film web is dispensed from a film web dispenser and wrapped around a bundle by moving the bundle into an applicator mandrel, revolving the film web dispenser relative to the applicator mandrel, dispensing the film web from the film web dispenser on to the applicator mandrel at a constant supply speed. The film web, wrapped around the applicator mandrel, is transported beyond the downstream end of the applicator mandrel, the bundle is moved beyond the downstream end of the applicator mandrel and the film web is applied from the applicator mandrel onto the bundle so as provide a containment force in the film web after it is applied onto the bundle. A dual stage wrapping system is used in such a manner that each orbiting dispenser is restrained to dispense the film web at a constant supply speed less than the lowest film demand speed at the applicator mandrel and independent of the tension on the film web between the film web dispenser and the applicator mandrel.

Abstract: A film web is dispensed from a film web dispenser and wrapped around a bundle by moving the bundle into an applicator mandrel, revolving the film web dispenser relative to the applicator mandrel, dispensing the film web from the film web dispenser on to the applicator mandrel at a constant supply speed. The film web, wrapped around the applicator mandrel, is transported beyond the downstream end of the applicator mandrel, the bundle is moved beyond the downstream end of the applicator mandrel and the film web is applied from the applicator mandrel onto the bundle so as provide a containment force in the film web after it is applied onto the bundle. A dual stage wrapping system is used in such a manner that each orbinting dispenser is restrained to dispense the film web at a constant supply speed less than the lowest film demand speed at the applicator mandrel and independent of the tension on the film web between the film web dispenser and the applicator mandrel.

Abstract: A clamp for clamping a web during stretch wrapping includes a first longitudinally extending clamp element for engaging the web, a second longitudinally extending clamp element extendable in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first clamp element for clamping the web between the second clamp element and the first clamp element as the second clamp element is longitudinally extended in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first clamp element.

Abstract: A device for wrapping a load with a web includes a web dispenser, a frame for supporting and carrying the web dispenser in the path around the load including a first track extending along substantially less than the full angular extent of the path, and a second track extending along substantially less than the full angular extent of the path and complementary to the first track for engaging and guiding the first track means along the path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for severing packaging material which extends between successive wrapped loads during a continuous wrapping process. Wrapped loads are conveyed along a load path in a conveying direction. A severing bar which extends lateral to the conveying direction includes a heating element which is connected to a power source by an electrical conductor. A sprocket and chain drive is used to transport the severing bar along a closed path having first and second segments. The first segments generally extends lateral to the extent of the severing bar and has a component in the conveying direction. During the first segment of transport, severing bar is transported across the load path between and along with a first pair of successive loads. The second segment of the closed path generally extends lateral to the extent of the severing bar as a component in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and process for high speed continuous film web wrapping of uniform loads, in which a first wrap is applied in a first direction transverse to the path of the moving load and a second wrap is applied in a second direction opposite the first direction. This dual wrap nullifies the disabling effects of helical wrap bias when a single wrap is applied at high speed to a moving load, and produces a longitudinal containment force after film web recovery over time on leading and trailing ends of the load. In the apparatus two wrapping stations are provided together with a wrapping conveyor assembly which carries the film web wrapped around the load and conveyor through the two stations.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for pre-stretching a plastic film material above its yield point in a roller assembly comprising at least two rollers connected for rotation at different speeds during a load wrapping operation. The downstream roller is at least partially driven by the film web connected to a turntable while the upstream roller rotates at a predetermined speed slower than that of the downstream roller to induce film elongation between the rollers. The force on the film between the roller assembly and the load is reduced by a powered constant torque device connected to the rollers to bring the force to the load down to a level permitting the film elongation between the roller assembly and the load to be equal to (balanced) or less than the elongation incurred between the rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling and dispensing a multi-ply web and wrapping a load with the multi-ply web includes a film web dispenser for receiving a plurality of webs from a plurality of rolls of web material, juxtaposing the plurality of webs to form a multi-ply web and dispensing the multi-ply web. The load is rotated relative to the film web dispenser to wrap the multi-ply film on the load and tension is maintained on the multi-ply web between the film web dispenser and the load. A core material such as a web of foam, UV-resistant material, or reinforcement netting is inserted between the plurality of webs prior to dispensing the multi-ply web. Rollers and a clutch and brake assembly are used to intermittently forward the web of core material.

Abstract: A rotatable film wrapping apparatus for wrapping a load on a conveyor with an overwrap of stretched plastic film web, having a ring-mounted film web pre-stretch mechanism which stretches and dispenses film at a varying speed controlled independently of variations in film tension and speed between the pre-stretch mechanism and the load, and a supply speed control mechanism which varies the supply speed of web from the pre-stretch mechanism as the ring rotates. The supply speed control mechanism is configured as a predetermined model of the load to minimize variation in film elongation and containment as successive load edges intercept film web during wrapping, thereby locking in these characteristics at predetermined levels for film web wrapped across the load side which ends at the edge.

Abstract: The invention comprises a novel apparatus having a plurality of flexible members which extend downstream horizontally along a wrapping conveying assembly for making unitary packages which are wrapped on all sides. The apparatus is particularly adapted for wrapping of loads with lengths and circumferences which vary substantially from one load to the next. Film is wrapped around the load, the flexible members and the conveying assembly with the load being carried off by another conveyor. The flexible members extend from the load being wrapped to the previous load which has been wrapped so that the stretched film is wrapped around the flexible member between loads causing the flexible members to be pulled inward forming a configuration resembling an hour glass. As the loads are being continuous bundled, the wrapped bundles can be transported downstream to a cutting and sealing area where the wrap is severed and optionally sealed forming individually enclosed wrapped packages.