Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for stretch wrapping a load in an efficient manner so as to tightly and securely wrap the load at a desired tension without rupturing the packaging material. The method and apparatus compensate for variation in demand rate as the load is wrapped so as to apply the wrapping material to a load at a desired force, maintain the desired containment tension on the wrapping material on the load after wrapping, and prevent the wrapping material from rupturing during wrapping. The apparatus combines two systems, power assisted roller stretch (“PRS”) and roller stretch (“RS”) to vary the supply rate of the packaging material as the demand rate varies. The apparatus automatically switches between the two types of prestretch to achieve “high” and “low” wrapping force dependent upon the demand rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for stretch wrapping a load in an efficient manner so as to tightly and securely wrap the load at a desired tension without rupturing the packaging material. The method and apparatus compensate for variation in demand rate as the load is wrapped so as to apply the wrapping material to a load at a desired force, maintain the desired containment tension on the wrapping material on the load after wrapping, and prevent the wrapping material from rupturing during wrapping. The apparatus combines two systems, power assisted roller stretch (“PRS”) and roller stretch (“RS”) to vary the supply rate of the packaging material as the demand rate varies. The apparatus automatically switches between the two types of prestretch to achieve “high” and “low” wrapping force dependent upon the demand rate.

Abstract: Loads on pallets are often wrapped with a plastic film for shipping. The present invention relates to top platen devices used to maintain stability in loads while the load is wrapped for shipping. The top platen device applies a compressive force to the load to stabilize the load while it is being wrapped. The top platen includes a shaft supporting platen pad which is placed on top of the load. The shaft and platen pad are configured to rotate eccentrically with respect to the geometric center of the top platen in order to rotate with the load about the load's center of rotation.

Abstract: A leading end of packaging material is attached to a retainer to hold the leading end of the packaging material as the retainer moves toward the load. The retainer is positioned adjacent the load and packaging material is dispensed from a packaging material dispenser, and relative rotation is provided between the dispenser and a load to wrap packaging material around the load. The packaging material is released from the retainer in response to force applied to the retainer to withdraw it from the wrapped load.

Abstract: A leading end of packaging material is grasped in a packaging material holder while a load is wrapped. Packaging material is dispensed from a packaging material dispenser, and relative rotation is provided between the dispenser and a load to wrap packaging material around the load. The packaging material holder is positioned on the rotating surface of a turntable but is isolated from any electrical or fluid power source of a rotatable surface of the turntable. During the wrapping cycle, a spring builds and stores energy as the packaging material holder moves downstream along the turntable, automatically releasing the leading end of the packaging material and automatically grasping a trailing end of the packaging material. At least a portion of the packaging material is cut between the packaging material holder and the load, and the spring releases the stored energy to move the packaging material holder upstream toward the dispenser.

Abstract: A leading end of packaging materials placed in a retainer to hold the leading end of the packaging material in the retainer. Packaging material is dispensed from a packaging material dispenser, and relative rotation is provided between the dispenser and a load to wrap packaging material around the load. The packaging material is automatically released from the retainer in response to force applied by packaging material wrapped around the load, or other unpowered actuation.

Abstract: A load portion is engaged in an infeed area and transported from the infeed area to a wrapping area with rotational, horizontal, and vertical carriers. Those carriers move the portion of the load horizontally along two horizontal degrees of freedom and one vertical degree of freedom by rotating a portion of the load about a vertical axis and translating the portion of the load along a generally linear horizontal direction and a generally linear vertical direction. The load is disengaged in the wrapping area and a stretch wrap packaging material dispenser is engaged and is transported to the wrapping area by the same rotational, horizontal, and vertical carriers to wrap the portion of the load with stretch wrap packaging material by using, once again, the same rotational, horizontal, and vertical carriers to rotate the dispenser around the load.

Abstract: A stretch wrapping machine includes a packaging material dispenser for dispensing packaging material and a segmented wrapping frame for supporting the packaging material dispenser. The frame includes segments of track which are assembled to one another to form a track for the packaging material dispenser so the packaging material dispenser can revolve around the load while rolling on coaxial wheel pairs. A motor drives the packaging dispenser around the load to wrap packaging material around the load.

Abstract: A stretch wrapping machine includes a film dispenser for dispensing packaging material and tensioning control means for controlling the tension of the packaging material during application to a load. The dispenser and tension controlling means may be used with a round frame, a frame with corners, a driving mechanism or a turntable, at least one of which will have signaling means for activating the tension controlling means.

Abstract: Loads are stretch wrapped by applying a waterproof top sheet to a load, lifting the edges of the waterproof top sheet while the sides of the load are wrapped with waterproof packaging material, releasing the edges of the waterproof top sheet and securing the edges of the waterproof top sheet around the load.

Abstract: A load is stretch wrapped with a sheet of stretch wrap packaging material dispensed from a stretch wrap packaging material dispenser. A cornerboard is attached to the sheet of stretch wrap packaging material and transported to the load with the stretch wrap packaging material. Relative rotation is provided between the stretch wrap packaging material dispenser and the load to wrap the stretch wrap packaging material around the load. The cornerboard is placed on the corner of the load with the stretch wrap packaging material and bent from a flat configuration to a bent configuration around a corner of the load with the stretch wrap packaging material.

Abstract: A method of building and wrapping a load including infeeding load units to an infeed area of a layer building area at an infeed level below a desired height of the load, repeatedly building load layers in a layer building area from load units incoming from the infeed area at the infeed level, repeatedly transporting the load layers from the layer building area to a load building and wrapping area to sequentially build a load of layers to the desired height of the load in the load building and wrapping area from layers built in the layer building area, wrapping the load of layers in the load building and wrapping area while building at least one interim layer in the layer building area from load units, outputting the wrapped load from the load building area, and sequentially transporting the interim layer and at least one other layer built in the layer building area from the layer building area to the load building and wrapping area to sequentially form a load of layers in the load building and wrapping area.

Abstract: A stretch wrapping apparatus is provided for stretch wrapping a load with a stretch wrapping material. The apparatus includes a dispenser for dispensing stretch wrapping material and a mechanism for rotating the dispenser around an axis of rotation to wrap the stretch wrapping material around the load. A conveyor transfers the load to and from a wrapping area, the conveyor having two sides and defining a centerline therebetween intersecting the axis of rotation. A frame supports the dispenser including at least one upright leg, only one leg of the frame being disposed on one of the sides of the conveyor and being spaced from a line perpendicularly intersecting the conveyor centerline at the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretch wrapping a load with stretch wrap packaging material includes a dispenser for dispensing a sheet of stretch wrap packaging material and a turntable assembly for supporting and rotating a load about a generally vertical axis to wrap the sheet of stretch wrap packaging material around the load. The turntable assembly includes a generally horizontal support surface for supporting the load and a horizontally displaceable barrier mounted along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the support surface a position normally spaced a greater distance from the vertical axis than the peripheral edge along which the displaceable barrier is mounted.

Abstract: A load of stretch wrap with a sheet of stretch wrap packaging material by feeding a sheet through a stretch wrap dispenser and stretching and dispensing from the dispenser, and providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap the stretched sheet around the load. The portion of the sheet is weakened with a sheet weakening device, and sheet is tensioned to break the sheet at the weakened portion.

Abstract: A stretch wrap dispenser includes a support for a roll of stretch wrap packaging material and a core which permits the roll to rotate. The support has an indexing portion with an outer radial area for contacting and indexing one axial end of the stretch wrap packaging material at a predetermined axial position. It also has an inner radial area for permitting any portion of the core that extends beyond the one axial end of the stretch wrap packaging material to extend beyond the predetermined axial position. Relative rotation is provided between dispenser and the load to wrap the stretched sheet around the load.

Abstract: A load having top and bottom caps is stretch wrapped at a wrapping station having turntable and a dispenser for dispensing stretch wrap packaging material, and a corner board placer for placing a corner board having tapered top and bottom edges on each corner of the load. With the load positioned on the turntable, the corner board placer is controlled by a controller to perform the steps of forming an acute angle between first and second portions of the corner board, and moving the corner board toward the corner until the first and second portions have been inserted between the top and bottom caps.

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 roll product is wrapped with a sheet of stretch wrap packaging material dispensed from a stretch wrap dispenser. A portion of the sheet is positioned between a clamp and the stretch wrap dispenser so that the portion of the sheet is across a load path between the load and a roller for rotating the load. The load is transported along the load path and placed in driving contact with the roller. The load is rotated by driving the load with a roller. The clamp is moved from a first location to a second location where the sheet is wrapped around the load and secured in place by another portion of the sheet.

Abstract: A load of stretch wrap with a sheet of stretch wrap packaging material by feeding a sheet through a stretch wrap dispenser and stretching and dispensing from the dispenser, and providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap the stretched sheet around the load. The portion of the sheet is weakened with a sheet weakening device, and sheet is tensioned to break the sheet at the weakened portion.