Abstract: A stretch film wrapping system for wrapping film about loads includes a wrap location for receiving loads to be wrapped; a film dispensing system including a film roll support mandrel assembly supported on a load cell that provides an output indicative of weight of the film roll support mandrel assembly and any film roll mounted thereon; and a control system for receiving the output of the load cell and configured to utilize load cell output to determine amount of film used for wrap operations.

Abstract: A stretch film wrapping machine includes a wrap location and a film carriage that is movable during wrap operations. The film carriage includes a first driven roller, a second driven roller and a drive a drive arrangement for the driven rollers. The carriage includes a primary frame part and a secondary frame part. A film path runs between the primary frame part and the secondary frame part and passes between the driven rollers. The secondary frame part moves relative to the primary frame part between an open position for film threading and a closed position for operation. The second driven roller is mounted to the secondary frame part for movement therewith and has a driven gear that engages with a drive gear of the drive arrangement when the secondary frame part is in the closed position. In the open position the driven gear dis-engages from the drive gear.

Abstract: A stretch film wrapping system for wrapping film about palletized loads includes a wrapping station for wrapping stretch film about a palletized load. A corner protector placement station is located upstream of the wrapping station along a path of a conveying system leading from the corner protector placement station to the wrapping station. Corner protectors are applied to the corner edges of a palletized load at the corner protector placement station, prior to delivering the palletized load to the wrapping station. The corner protector placement station may include a pair of robotic arms that pick corner protectors, position them for application of an adhesive and then apply the protectors to the corner edges of the palletized load.

Abstract: A packaging system for handling palletized product arranged in multiple layers of product cases, a pallet de-layering system includes a gripper mechanism. The gripper mechanism is configured to clamp a layer of the multiple layers by applying a clamping force to one or more product cases of the layer such that the layer can be removed from an adjacent layer of product cases to a different location. The layer includes a void between adjacent product cases. The gripper mechanism includes a void filling member carried by the gripper mechanism. The void filling member is sized and located to be positioned within the void to limit movement of the adjacent product cases into the void during a clamping operation.

Abstract: In a packaging system for packing cases with product, a product metering system is provided. The product metering system includes a first product lane along which a first product travels and a second product lane along which a second product travels. The second product is different from the first product. A first movable barrier has a first position that obstructs progress of the first product along the first product lane and a second position that allows progress of the first product along the first product lane past the first movable barrier. The first product lane and second product lane merge into a first common lane downstream of the first movable barrier, wherein when the first movable barrier is in the first position only the second product is metered to the first common lane.