STRETCH WRAP FILM CARRIAGE
A carriage for a stretch wrap assembly including a base, a top housing, and a pre-stretch assembly. A bottom portion of the film is formed into a roped or creased portion between an area wherein the film leaves a roll of stretch wrap and the pre-stretch assembly.
The present invention concerns stretch wrapping machines, and more particularly relates to a carriage for a stretch wrapping machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDuring the past several decades, considerable developments have been made in the field of wrapping a load with a stretched web of film. Most notably, the film web dispenser used in stretch wrapping operations has developed to the extent that it contains a series of rollers which defines a path through which the web passes so that it can be prestretched prior to being dispensed on the load. However, those in the field are continuously looking for means for forming a better wrap about a product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn aspect of the present invention is to provide a carriage for a stretch wrap assembly comprising a base, a top housing, a pre-stretch assembly located between the base and the top housing, with the pre-stretch assembly including a plurality of pre-stretch rollers, and a gear system located for rotating the pre-stretch rollers at a desired relative speed for stretching stretch wrap passing through the pre-stretch assembly. The base has a top surface and the plurality of pre-stretch rollers extending substantially perpendicularly from the top surface such that axes of rotation of the plurality of pre-stretch rollers are substantially perpendicular to the top surface. The base further includes a source of stretch wrap extension platform extending laterally from a main portion of the base, with the source of stretch wrap extension platform not being located under the top housing. The source of stretch wrap extension platform has an upper surface and a mandrel extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper surface. The mandrel is configured to receive a roll of stretch wrap thereon such that an axis of rotation of the roll of stretch wrap is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the source of stretch wrap extension platform. The upper surface of the source of stretch wrap extension platform is located below the top surface of the base such that a bottom of the roll of stretch wrap can be located below a bottom of the plurality of pre-stretch.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a carriage for a stretch wrap assembly comprising a base, a top housing, a pre-stretch assembly located between the base and the top housing, with the pre-stretch assembly including a plurality of pre-stretch rollers, and a gear system located for rotating the pre-stretch rollers at a desired relative speed for stretching stretch wrap passing through the pre-stretch assembly. The base has a top surface and the plurality of pre-stretch extending substantially perpendicularly from the top surface such that axes of rotation of the plurality of pre-stretch rollers are substantially perpendicular to the top surface. The base further includes a source of stretch wrap extension platform extending laterally from a main portion of the base. The source of stretch wrap extension platform has a mandrel extending substantially perpendicularly from an upper surface thereof, with the mandrel configured to receive a roll of stretch wrap thereon such that an axis of rotation of the roll of stretch wrap is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the source of stretch wrap extension platform. The carriage further includes a roping bar located between the mandrel and the pre-stretch assembly, the roping bar being configured to such that a bottom of the film extending between the roll of stretch wrap and the pre-stretch assembly forces the bottom upward to form the film into a bottom roping portion before the film enters the pre-stretch assembly.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of roping at least a portion of stretch wrap film, the method comprising providing a carriage having a base, a top housing, and a pre-stretch assembly located between the base and the top housing; placing a roll of stretch wrap on the base; pulling film from the roll of stretch wrap through the carriage; pre-stretching the film passing through the carriage with the pre-stretch assembly; and roping at least a bottom portion of the film from the roll of stretch wrap at a location between the roll of stretch wrap and the pre-stretch assembly.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in
The reference number 10 (
A roll of stretch wrap film 26 (shown in phantom in
In the prior art carriage 50, the upper surface 56 of the main portion 66 and the upper surface 72 of the source of stretch wrap extension platform 68 are level and contiguous such that the base 54 supports both the stretch wrap mandrel 70, the pre-stretch rollers 60 and the remaining rollers on a level plane. The center tube 78 along with the film 76 thereon of the roll of stretch wrap film 26 also rest on the upper surface 72 of the source of stretch wrap extension platform 68 of the base 54. Therefore, the film 76 from the roll of stretch wrap film 26 that enters the pre-stretch assembly 58 of the prior art carriage 50 is substantially parallel to the axes of rotation of the rollers of the pre-stretch assembly 58 and is flat without any creases.
In the illustrated example, the carriage 24 of the present invention (
The illustrated carriage 24 of the present invention can provide for the roped or creased area 102 at the bottom portion 100 of the film 76a in several manners. For example, the upper surface 72a of the source of stretch wrap extension platform 68a can be located below the upper surface 56a of the main portion 66a of the base 54a having the pre-stretch assembly 58a. Alternatively, the carriage 24 can include a film bottom roping bar 200 that engages the bottom portion 100 of the film 76a from the roll of stretch wrap film 26a before the film 76a enters the pre-stretch assembly 58a. Moreover, it is contemplated that the carriage 24 could include both the upper surface 72a of the source of stretch wrap extension platform 68a being lower than the upper surface 56a of the main portion 66a of the base 54a and the film bottom roping bar 200.
The illustrated source of stretch wrap extension platform 68a of the base 54a includes a stretch wrap mandrel 70a for holding the roll of stretch wrap film 26a (see
In the illustrated example, the stretch wrap mandrel 70a extends upward and perpendicularly from the plate 104 and is configured to hold the roll of stretch wrap film 26a thereon. The stretch wrap mandrel 70a includes a fixed post 108, a bottom wheel 110 and a top wheel 112. The bottom wheel 110 and the top wheel 112 are rotatable upon the fixed post 108. The bottom wheel 110 and the top wheel 112 have approximately the same diameter and are configured to closely receive the center tube 78a of the roll of stretch wrap film 26a to allow the roll of stretch wrap film 26a to easily rotate.
The source of stretch wrap extension platform 68a of the base 54a having the upper surface 72a being lower than the upper surface 56a of the main portion 66a of the base 54a allows the bottom portion 100 of the film 76a to form the roped or creased area 102 as shown in
It is contemplated that the bottom portion 100 of the film 76a could abut any surface between the upper surface 72a of the source of stretch wrap extension platform 68a of the base 54a and the upper surface 56a of the main portion 66a of the base 54a. For example, such surface could be merely a ledge between the two upper surfaces 56a, 72a. The surface could also be on the film bottom roping bar 200. The film bottom roping bar 200 (see
It is contemplated that the film bottom roping bar 200 could be the sole mechanism for forming the roped or creased area 102. For example, if the upper surface 72a of the source of stretch wrap extension platform 68a of the base 54a and the upper surface 56a of the main portion 66a of the base 54a were level, the arm 204 of the film bottom roping bar 200 could force the bottom portion 100 of the film 76a upward to form the roped or creased area 102. It is further contemplated that the film bottom roping bar 200 could be made to be easily removable (e.g., through a wing nut connection) or could be made to be vertically adjustable to control the amount of the bottom portion 100 of the film 76a that is made into the roped or creased area 102. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the source of stretch wrap extension platform 68a of the base 54a could be configured to be vertically adjustably connected to the main portion 66 of the base 54a to control the amount of the bottom portion 100 of the film 76a that is made into the roped or creased area 102.
When using the carriage 24 as disclosed herein, there can be further modifications. For example, as illustrated in
The above description is considered that of the one embodiment only. Modification of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A carriage for a stretch wrap assembly comprising:
- a base;
- a top housing;
- a pre-stretch assembly located between the base and the top housing, the pre-stretch assembly including a plurality of pre-stretch rollers; and
- a gear system located for rotating the pre-stretch rollers at a desired relative speed for stretching stretch wrap film passing through the pre-stretch assembly;
- the base having a top surface and the plurality of pre-stretch rollers extending substantially perpendicularly from the top surface such that axes of rotation of the plurality of pre-stretch rollers are substantially perpendicular to the top surface;
- the base further including a source of stretch wrap extension platform extending laterally from a main portion of the base, the source of stretch wrap extension platform not being located under the top housing;
- the source of stretch wrap extension platform having an upper surface and a mandrel extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper surface, the mandrel configured to receive a roll of stretch wrap film thereon such that an axis of rotation of the roll of stretch wrap film is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the source of stretch wrap extension platform;
- wherein the upper surface of the source of stretch wrap extension platform is located below the top surface of the base such that a bottom of the roll of stretch wrap film can be located below a bottom of the plurality of pre-stretch rollers.
2. The carriage according to claim 1, further including:
- a roping bar located between the mandrel and the pre-stretch assembly, the roping bar being configured to such that the bottom of the film extending between the roll of stretch wrap film and the pre-stretch assembly forces the bottom upward to form the film into a bottom roping portion before the film enters the pre-stretch assembly.
3. The carriage according to claim 1, wherein:
- the pre-stretch rollers include a cylindrical lower area that is harder than the remaining portion of the pre-stretch rollers and having the same diameter.
4. The carriage according to claim 3, wherein:
- the cylindrical lower area includes a cylindrical aluminum surface.
5. A carriage for a stretch wrap assembly comprising:
- a base;
- a top housing;
- a pre-stretch assembly located between the base and the top housing, the pre-stretch assembly including a plurality of pre-stretch rollers;
- a gear system located for rotating the pre-stretch rollers at a desired relative speed for stretching stretch wrap film passing through the pre-stretch assembly;
- the base having a top surface and the plurality of pre-stretch rollers extending substantially perpendicularly from the top surface such that axes of rotation of the plurality of pre-stretch rollers are substantially perpendicular to the top surface;
- the base further including a source of stretch wrap extension platform extending laterally from a main portion of the base;
- the source of stretch wrap extension platform having a mandrel extending substantially perpendicularly from an upper surface thereof, the mandrel configured to receive a roll of stretch wrap film thereon such that an axis of rotation of the roll of stretch wrap film is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the source of stretch wrap extension platform; and
- a roping bar located between the mandrel and the pre-stretch assembly, the roping bar being configured to such that a bottom of the film extending between the roll of stretch wrap film and the pre-stretch assembly forces the bottom upward to form the film into a bottom roping portion before the film enters the pre-stretch assembly.
6. The carriage according to claim 5, wherein:
- the pre-stretch rollers include a cylindrical lower area that is harder than the remaining portion of the pre-stretch rollers and having the same diameter.
7. The carriage according to claim 6, wherein:
- the cylindrical lower area includes a cylindrical aluminum surface.
8. A method of roping at least a portion of stretch wrap film, the method comprising:
- providing a carriage having a base, a top housing, and a pre-stretch assembly located between the base and the top housing;
- placing a roll of stretch wrap film on the base;
- pulling film from the roll of stretch wrap film through the carriage;
- pre-stretching the film passing through the carriage with the pre-stretch assembly; and
- roping at least a bottom of the film from the roll of stretch wrap film at a location between the roll of stretch film wrap and the pre-stretch assembly.
9. The method according to claim 8, further including:
- locating a roping bar between a mandrel and the pre-stretch assembly, the roping bar forcing the bottom upward to form the film into a bottom roping portion before the film enters the pre-stretch assembly.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein:
- the pre-stretch assembly includes pre-stretch rollers having a cylindrical lower area that is harder than the remaining portion of the pre-stretch rollers and having the same diameter.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein:
- the cylindrical lower area includes a cylindrical aluminum surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 30, 2020
Publication Date: Jun 2, 2022
Inventors: Neil G. COUSINS (Tottenham), Srbislav Z. DAVIDOVIC (Oakville)
Application Number: 17/106,622