Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load is provided. The apparatus includes a non-powered conveyor load wrapping surface, at least one non-powered conveyor load storage surface, and a pusher assembly for moving the load between the wrapping and storage surfaces. The non-powered conveyor load wrapping surface is provided on a surface of a rotatable turntable and is isolated from any electrical or fluid power source by the rotatable turntable. The pusher assembly includes at least one pusher arm rotatable between an upright home position and a horizontal pushing position. The apparatus may also include a load building surface in a hand palletizing area. Hand palletized loads are pushed from the load building surface onto either a load storage surface or the load wrapping surface.

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: 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: 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: An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load is provided. The apparatus includes a non-powered conveyor load wrapping surface, at least one non-powered conveyor load storage surface, and a pusher assembly for moving the load between the wrapping and storage surfaces. The non-powered conveyor load wrapping surface is provided on a surface of a rotatable turntable and is isolated from any electrical or fluid power source by the rotatable turntable. The pusher assembly includes at least one pusher arm rotatable between an upright home position and a horizontal pushing position. The apparatus may also include a load building surface in a hand palletizing area. Hand palletized loads are pushed from the load building surface onto either a load storage surface or the load wrapping surface.

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 cantilevered packaging material dispenser has an arm rotatable about a generally horizontal axis to wrap packaging material around the top and bottom of the load in a wrapping area. The rotatable arm rotates about a cantilevered load support surface to wrap packaging material around the top and bottom of the load. The cantilevered load support surface includes a free end mounted and movable in the wrapping area between a wrapping position and a load transfer position.

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: Plastic packaging material on a wrapped load is disposed of by applying a stream of air to a selected region of the packaging material on the load at a sufficient temperature, volume, and velocity and causing to weaken and the packaging material to be separated in the selected region, separating the plastic packaging material along the selected region and removing the plastic packaging material from the load. The invention may further include winding up the severed packaging material, and forming a rolled bale of packaging material removed from several loads.

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 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.