Patents by Inventor Willie Martin Hall

Willie Martin Hall has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120124944
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined fixed amount of pre-stretched packaging material based upon load girth is disclosed. A non-rotating ring carries a belt driven by a motor. A packaging material dispenser is mounted on a rotating ring, and the rotating ring may include a pulley that connects to the band, such that the rotating ring is driven by the drive belt. Based upon the girth of the load to be wrapped, an amount of pre-stretched packaging material to be dispensed for at least a portion of a revolution made by the rotating ring is determined. Good wrapping performance in terms of load containment (wrap force) and optimum packaging material use is obtained by dispensing a length of pre-stretched packaging material that is between approximately 90% and approximately 120% of load girth. Once the amount of packaging material to be dispensed per revolution is determined, a ratio of rotating ring drive to final pre-stretch surface speed (i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, David E. Eldrige, Willie Martin Hall, Richard L. Johnson, Curtis W. Martin, Philip R. Moore, Joseph Donald Norris
  • Publication number: 20120031053
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a film dispenser for dispensing a film web, at least one drive down roller configured to engage the width of the film web, and at least one roping mechanism. The at least one roping mechanism may be a cable rolling element configured to roll a portion of the film web into a rolled cable of film. The apparatus may also include an assembly for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap a roped portion of the film web around a base of the load/top portion of a pallet supporting the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: LANTECH.COM
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, David E. Eldridge, Willie Martin Hall, Richard L. Johnson, Curtis W. Martin, Philip R. Moore, Joseph Donald Norris
  • Patent number: 8037660
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a film dispenser for dispensing a film web, at least one drive down roller configured to engage the width of the film web, and at least one roping mechanism. The at least one roping mechanism may be a cable rolling element configured to roll a portion of the film web into a rolled cable of film. The apparatus may also include an assembly for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap a roped portion of the film web around a base of the load/top portion of a pallet supporting the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, David E. Eldridge, Willie Martin Hall, Richard L. Johnson, Curtis W. Martin, Philip R. Moore, Joseph Donald Norris
  • Publication number: 20110146203
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined fixed amount of pre-stretched packaging material based upon load girth. A non-rotating ring carries a belt driven by a motor. A packaging material dispenser is mounted on a rotating ring, and the rotating ring may include a pulley that connects to the band, such that the rotating ring is driven by the drive belt. Based upon the girth of the load to be wrapped, an amount of pre-stretched packaging material to be dispensed for at least a portion of a revolution made by the rotating ring is determined. Good wrapping performance in terms of load containment (wrap force) and optimum packaging material use is obtained by dispensing a length of pre-stretched packaging material that is between approximately 90% and approximately 120% of load girth. Once the amount of packaging material to be dispensed per revolution is determined, a ratio of rotating ring drive to final pre-stretch surface speed (i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, David E. Eldridge, Willie Martin Hall, Richard L. Johnson, Curtis W. Martin, Philip R. Moore, Joseph Donald Norris
  • Patent number: 7779607
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a predetermined fixed amount of pre-stretched packaging material based upon load girth. A non-rotating ring carries a belt driven by a motor. A packaging material dispenser is mounted on a rotating ring, and the rotating ring may include a pulley that connects to the band, such that the rotating ring is driven by the drive belt. Based upon the girth of the load to be wrapped, an amount of pre-stretched packaging material to be dispensed for each revolution made by the rotating ring is determined. Good wrapping performance in terms of load containment (wrap force) and optimum packaging material use is obtained by dispensing a length of pre-stretched packaging material that is between approximately 90% and approximately 120% of load girth. Once the amount of packaging material to be dispensed per revolution is determined, a ratio of rotating ring drive to final pre-stretch surface speed (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, David E. Eldridge, Willie Martin Hall, Richard L. Johnson, Curtis W. Martin, Philip R. Moore, Joseph Donald Norris
  • Patent number: 7540128
    Abstract: A film dispenser for a stretch wrapping apparatus is provided. The film dispenser includes a pre-stretch assembly having a top portion mounted to and extending downwardly from a drive plate of a roll carriage frame. The pre-stretch assembly includes two pre-stretch rollers having first ends connected to the roll carriage frame and second ends connected to one another. The pre-stretch rollers may be coated. The pre-stretch assembly further includes a cantilevered idle roller mounted to the drive plate and positioned between the pre-stretch rollers. A film path is defined by the space between the pre-stretch rollers and the idle roller. The film path is easily accessible via the bottom end of the pre-stretch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Richard L. Johnson, Willie Martin Hall, Jeremy D. Anderson, David Eldridge