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 bearing members engage each other for supporting the rotatable support and permitting the rotation of the rotatable support. One of the bearing members is mounted on the rotatable support and the other bearing member is mounted on the fixed support. One of the bearing members includes a track of resilient material and the other bearing member includes a roller surface which rolls along the track of resilient material.

Abstract: A stretch wrapping apparatus includes a dispenser for dispensing stretch wrap packaging material. The dispenser includes upstream and downstream prestretch rollers for engaging and stretching stretch wrap packaging material. The dispenser also includes an intermediate orienting roller positioned between the upstream and downstream prestretch rollers. The intermediate orienting roller abuts one of the upstream and downstream prestretch rollers, and is spaced from the other of the upstream and downstream prestretch rollers. Relative rotation is provided between the dispenser and the load to wrap the stretch wrap packaging material around 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 stretch wrap packaging machine includes a support frame and a rotatable frame rotatably mounted on the support frame. A dispenser is mounted on the rotatable frame to follow an orbital path. The dispenser has a web tensioning system which is selectably operable in a plurality of states. At least one actuation ring is moveably mounted on the support frame for cooperation with the tensioning system and selectively rendering the tensioning system operable in each of the plurality of states of operation throughout the orbital path. An activator moves the actuation ring to cooperate with the tensioning system. The tensioning system may include prestretch rollers connected by an engageable clutch. The tensioning system may also include at least one power assisted roller which is connected by a clutch to a power source.

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: A coated roller for transportation and stretching of plastic film web during load unitization, and a process for preparation of the coated roller. A cylindrical metallic roller core is pitted by blasting, then primed, heated and immersed in a room-temperature liquid plastisol comprising vinyl particles dissolved in a plasticizer. The plastisol accumulates on the hot metal to a depth determined by immersion time. After removal, curing and cooling the coated core is machined by lathe to expose a cellular infrastructure and achieve a cylindrical coating coaxial with the core. The coated roller exhibits superior durability, resistance to tackifier additive buildup, and resistance to circumferential web slippage during web stretch between two rollers in a film path from a supply roll to a load being wrapped.

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 stretch wrapping a load with a film web having a tacky surface and a non-tacky surface. The film web is wrapped around the load in a forward direction with the tacky surface facing away from the load. The orientation of the film web is reversed by inserting a metal rod in the path of the film web and reversing the wrapping direction. The film web wraps around the metal rod, thereby causing the film web to fold back on itself. The film web is wrapped around the load in the reverse direction to cover the film web which was wrapped in the forward direction, with the tacky side facing the film web which was wrapped in the forward direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for severing packaging material which extends between successive wrapped loads during a continuous packaging process. A conveyor assembly conveys the wrapped loads along a load path in a conveying direction. The conveyor assembly includes a first conveyor portion having a discharge area and a second conveyor portion having a receiving area downstream and a step down from the discharge area of the first conveyor portion. A severing assembly includes a severing element located above the second conveyor portion for severing the packaging material between loads. A pivoting breakaway mechanism permits the severing element to pivot in the conveying direction. An escapement mechanism, responsive to load sensors, transports the severing element to a position spaced from the load path when the severing element encounters a load.

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 method and apparatus for dispensing a top sheet and stretch wrapping includes a dispenser for dispensing a sheet from a roll of sheet material and a trough for receiving, containing and collapsing the dispensed sheet. A circulating bar draws the dispensed sheet from the trough over the top of a load by moving from a starting position to a finishing position above and across the top of the load while another bar returns from the finishing position to the starting position to position the dispensed sheet proximate to a hot wire which severs the sheet from the roll from which it is dispensed. A suspended flexible strip rests on top of the load for holding the sheet in place on top of the load. The trough, circulating bars and depending flexible strip are mounted on a frame which is movable in the vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a wrapping apparatus having a frame, a reciprocally driven carriage moveably mounted on the frame, the carriage being adapted to hold a rotatable roll of stretchable film material and a film width varying mechanism. A driven rotatable turntable adapted to support a load is positioned adjacent to the frame, and the leading edge of the film material is held adjacent the load. A brake is connected to the film roll to restrict movement of the web of material from the roll and the film width varying mechanism is mounted in the material path so that the film web travels through a pivotable "C" shaped assembly of the film width varying mechanism to collapse the film web width so that the web edges are formed into rope configurations connected by a membrane of film.

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 method and apparatus for testing the properties of stretch film include collapsing a web of stretch film into a rope, anchoring the rope web at two locations and stretching an intermediate portion of the rope web a first distance in a first direction between the locations where it is anchored. The intermediate portion of the stretched roped web is displaced a second distance along a second direction transverse to the first direction and relative to the locations where it is anchored, and the tension force in the stretched roped web is measured when it is displaced the second distance. Alternatively, peripheral portions of a sheet of stretch film are secured and a central portion of the sheet of stretch film is engaged and deformed a third distance in the second direction.

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 method and apparatus for unitizing a load of tires stacked in a longitudinal direction. The stack of tires is compressed in the longitudinal direction between two platens located adjacent the ends of the stack of tires. A web is dispensed and stretched along the direction in which it is dispensed. A leading end portion of the web is held adjacent the stack of tires and mandrels are positioned adjacent the ends of the stack of tires. The stack of tires is rotated relative to the web dispenser about its longitudinal axis. The stretched web is wrapped around and onto the compressed stack of tires and the mandrels, forming a tube which extends in the longitudinal direction beyond the stack of tires and on the mandrels. The mandrels are separated from the web and the stack of tires and the web is collapsed from the mandrel onto the stack of tires, covering the sidewalls of the tires at the ends of the stack.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a wrapping apparatus having a frame, a reciprocally driven carriage moveably mounted on the frame, the carriage being adapted to hold a rotatable roll of stretchable film material and a film width varying mechanism. A driven rotatable turntable adapted to support a load is positioned adjacent to the frame, and the leading edge of the film material is held adjacent the load. A brake is connected to the film roll to restrict movement of the web of material from the roll and the film width varying mechanism is mounted in the material path so that the film web travels through a pivotable "C" shaped assembly of the film width varying mechanism to collapse the film web width so that the web edges are formed into rope configurations connected by a membrane of film.

Abstract: An arrangement for wiping down a web wrapped on a load includes a wiper support; and a wiper including at least one strip having two ends, a thickness, a width substantially greater than the thickness, and a length extending between the two ends, at least one end secured to the wiper support, the strip extending from the wiper support in a direction along the length of the strip and being flexible in a direction generally parallel to the thickness of the strip for wiping down the web wrapped on the load by relative movement between the wiper support and the web in said direction.