Abstract: A pass through apparatus and process for wrapping a web of stretched material around a conveyor transported load. The pass through apparatus has a film supply assembly on opposite sides of the load, each of the assemblies comprising a film dispenser and a powered roller mechanism which takes film from the film dispenser and pre-stretches it in the powered roller mechanism prior to the application of the film around the load. Once the load passes a sensing station, it is stopped and the clamping jaws draw the tensioned film around the load and clamp together short sections of film which have not been pre-stretched by the roller mechanisms. The film is then relaxed in the sealing area and is sealed in an untensioned un-pre-stretched state. The sealed webs are then severed allowing the wrapped load to be carried away by the conveyor with the film wrap slowly recovering its original configuration increasing the holding force of the wrap on the load.

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 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 process and apparatus for applying stretchable plastic film to loads for containment of the loads using two connected rollers driven by the film web so that the rollers are driven at different speeds to elongate the plastic film beyond its yield point and wrapping the elongated film after it has been stretched past its yield point around a rotating load. A roller can be added to the apparatus to increase the set time for the elongated film after it is stretched by the connected rollers. In addition, a web narrowing device may be placed upstream or downstream from the apparatus to reduce the hazard of edge tear under high elongation forces.

Abstract: The invention comprises a novel apparatus and process for making unitary packages. In the apparatus, a series of loads are fed into a wrapping apparatus onto a wrapping conveying assembly comprised of a plurality of conveyors. The film is wrapped around the load and the conveyor assembly with the load being carried off by the top portion of one conveyor and the wrap being carried off the bottom portion of another conveyor so that the load and wrap are carried off at the same speed onto a take-off conveyor. The stretched film web can be severed by a cutting mechanism positioned adjacent the dispensing means in the banding, full web or spiral modes of operation. In a continuous bundling mode, the wrapped bundle can be transported downstream to a cutting area where the loads are severed into individual packages which are carried off to a stacking or processing station.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for applying stretchable plastic film to loads for containment of the loads using two connected rollers driven by the film web so that the rollers are driven at different speeds to elongate the plastic film beyond its yield point and wrapping the elongated film after it has been stretched past its yield point around a rotating load. A roller can be added to the apparatus to increase the set time for the elongated film after it is stretched by the connected rollers. In addition, a web narrowing device may be placed upstream or downstream from the apparatus to reduce the hazard of edge tear under high elongation forces.

Abstract: A spiral wrapping apparatus provided with a mechanical closure device is used to tie the leading and trailing edges of a film web which have been overwrapped around a plurality of vertically stacked units to form a unitary package. The leading edge of material from the film dispenser is held by a clamp mechanism to a turntable. As the turntable is rotated to wrap the load, the wrapping material is stretched and the trailing end of the material is formed into a rope-like configuration which is carried on the mechanical closure device to a position adjacent the clamped leading end of material with the leading and trailing ends then being tied together.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for automatically making a spiral wrapped unitary package having a ring type or tied closure. In the apparatus a series of loads, each containing a plurality of units are fed one load at a time onto a turntable adjacent a material dispenser with the leading edge of the material from the dispenser being formed into a rope-like configuration by a roper mechanism and held by a clamp mechanism mounted on the turntable. The material is opened to its full web width, stretched and is spirally wrapped around the load at which time it is again formed into another rope-like configuration by the roper mechanism, and is positioned adjacent the leading edge where it is mechanically joined to the leading edge of the material by a ring type or tied closure. The roped material is then released from the clamp mechanism mounted on the turntable and the material is allowed to return to its memory position.

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 which when pivoted by spring action reduces the film web width, so that the film material is stretched and reduced in width as it leaves the roll.

Abstract: A process for automatically making a spiral wrapped unitary package with a single web of stretchable material to form a netting overwrap. A series of loads, each containing a plurality of units are fed one at a time onto a turntable adjacent a film dispenser with the leading edge of the film from the film dispenser being collapsed in width and held by a clamp mechanism mounted on the turntable. The collapsed film web is spirally wrapped around the load to one end of the load and spirally wrapped around the load to the other end to complete a first cycle defining an overwrap netting configuration with a plurality of symmetrical angular spaces. The turntable is then rotated at least 90.degree. to offset the collapsed film web and a second cycle is repeated with the film web being spirally wrapped to overlie part of the originally spirally wrapped film web and reduce the angularly shaped spaces formed by the first cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for automatically wrapping packages with a full-web or spiral overwrap. The apparatus includes a film handling assembly in which stretched film is wrapped around the load rotated by a turntable. When the load is stopped in a home position a cutting and sealing assembly is transported into the film path, engaging the film and displacing it out of its original dispensed path. Rotatable clamps mounted on the turntable are rotated upward to grab the lower portion of the stretched film web while the sealing mechanism of the assembly engages the trailing edge of the film web to hold it against the film wrap, after which a cutter blade of the assembly is extended into the film web, severing the film web so that the load can be transported off the conveyor with the sealing mechanism pressing the trailing edge of the film onto the package wrap.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for automatically making spiral wrapped unitary package having a netting overwrap. In the apparatus a series of loads, each containing a plurality of units are fed one at a time onto a turntable adjacent a netting dispenser with the leading edge of the netting from the netting dispenser being held by a clamp mechanism mounted on the turntable. The netting is spirally wrapped around the load and is then formed into a rope-like configuration by a roper mechanism, with the roped netting being wrapped around the turntable clamp mechanism, at which time the roped netting is clamped by a clamping, tucking and cutting mechanism.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and process for making a unitary package which comprises a load that has a band formed of plural layers of a stretched material wrapped around it.The apparatus comprises a frame with a rotatable drive shaft driven by a drive mechanism, an arm secured to the drive shaft and a roll holding shaft rotatably mounted to the arm. A sensor device measures the thickness of a material roll placed on the roll holding shaft to control an electromagnetic brake mechanism mounted on the roll holding shaft to variably engage the roll holding shaft thus maintaining a constant tension on the film unwrapped from the roll.The steps of the process are placing a load on a support; locating a rolled-up sheet of a stretchable material on dispenser roll adjacent to the support; withdrawing a leading edge of the material from the dispenser roll and holding the leading edge of the material against the load.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for making a unitary package which comprises a load that has a band formed of plural layers of a stretched material wrapped around it.