Annular Package Patents (Class 53/204)
  • Patent number: 11987407
    Abstract: A strapping system and method for automatically applying strapping to at least one associated object, such as a roll of coiled material having a void. The system includes a first end effector and second end effector, each end effector mountable to a robotic arm and including at least a portion of a chute, the end effectors movable relative to each other when mounted to a robotic arm such that the chute portions of each end effector can be selectively brought together in a plurality of orientations to define a generally continuous chute loop through which a strapping material can be advanced to surround the at least one associated object located at least partially within the chute loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Taylor-Winfield Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Stone, Brian Rea, Jeffery Bell
  • Patent number: 11192672
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a bead wire wrapper device and a wrapper method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SHANDONG DAYE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wenjun Li
  • Patent number: 10934035
    Abstract: A machine for packaging flexible hoses in a plastic film has a packaging station provided with an operating device for imparting to a coil of flexible hose a rotary motion around a rotation axis, and an orienting device for imparting to the plastic film an oscillatory motion around a fulcrum axis substantially transverse to the rotation axis of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SICA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio De Vita, Giorgio Tabanelli
  • Publication number: 20150020478
    Abstract: A rotating tucking device for securing a wrapper to a roll in a roll packaging system comprises a tucking arm for insertion into a hollow cavity of a roll and a rotating insertion system connected to the tucking arm for moving the tucking arm in a rotational pattern coordinated with the movement of the roll through the roll packaging system such that the tucking arm and the rotating insertion system tuck a wrapper into the hollow cavity of the roll as the roll moves continuously through the roll packaging system. Also provided is a roll packaging system having a rotating tucking device, as well as a rotating tucking method for securing a wrapper to a roll as the roll moves continuously through the roll packaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Zagnoni, Todd Lee Hanson, Scott Santaga
  • Publication number: 20140260087
    Abstract: A packaging machine including an insertion station for inserting the rolls in wrapping sheets; a feed path of the rolls; a conveyor for feeding the rolls along the feed path; and a folding station adapted to be equipped alternatively with different types of folding members, as a function of the type of pack to produce.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Luca Antoniazzi, Gabriele Canini, Valter Di Nardo
  • Patent number: 8650836
    Abstract: A film-tail clamp, cut, and seal system for use in a wrapping apparatus for wrapping an associated item has an oval track vertically oriented and openable to move into and out of the associated item. A shuttle is configured for movement along an inner periphery of the track. A wrapping material is dispensed from the shuttle for wrapping around the item. A clamp arm, which is movable into and out of a plane defined by the film being wrapped around the item, has a sealing element for contacting and sealing a free end portion of the film onto a portion of the film already wrapped around the item. The clamp arm also has a clamp for securing the film when the film is sealed and has a cutter for cutting the free end portion of the film from the portion sealed onto the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid M. Albert, Jeffrey G. Kellermann
  • Patent number: 8544241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wrapping device for enveloping or packing in particular agricultural crop bales, including a wrapping floor for receiving and rotating the pressed crop bale and a guide frame for at least one wrapping material carrier for wrapping the bale on the wrapping floor with wrapping material in the form of webs, wherein the guide frame is height adjustable, in order to set the center of the wrapping material approximately at the location of the center of the crop bale to be wrapped. In order to be able to adapt wrapping devices having a guide frame to bales of different bale diameters, the guide frame should be pivotable about a horizontal axle which is situated parallel to the axis of rotation of the crop bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Lely Patent N.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jacobus Reijersen-Van Buuren
  • Patent number: 8516779
    Abstract: A bale wrapping attachment for a baler that forms round bales is mounted at a rear portion of the baler and includes a support for a supply of wrapping material that is formed as a web and rolled into a roll. The web is passed across a fixed, non-rotating feed bar. The wrapping attachment includes a guillotine type knife that cooperates with a cross frame member forming an anvil. The knife is slidable between a retracted position and a cutting position wherein a knife carried by the cutter engages the cross frame member to sever material underneath the knife. When the knife is in its retracted position, the non-rotating feed bar is moved to a position wherein wrapping material draped over the feed bar contacts exposed surfaces of bale forming belts from the baler, causing the wrapping material to be carried with the belts and into the bale chamber to wrap around the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Duratech Industries International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick D. Bennett, Aaron J. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130097965
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming elongate plastic film into a tube around variable size articles includes a conveyor and a forming collar positioned over the conveyor. The forming collar includes left and right sections pivotally supported on a common carrier and moveable relative to the conveyor. The carrier is also moveable relative to the conveyor. The plastic film tube is formed by directing the central film area onto the conveyor, the left film side onto the inside surface of the left collar section and the right film side onto the inside surface of the right collar section. Movement of the forming collar left and right sections about their pivotal supports and/or movement of the carrier cause the forming collar sections to move between retracted and expanded positions for thereby forming a variable size plastic tube corresponding to the article size being received therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Chris Allen Honegger
  • Publication number: 20130097966
    Abstract: A joining apparatus and methods wherein, after plastic film is formed into a variable size tube for receiving therein and enveloping corresponding variable size large articles such as bales of cotton, trash, cloth, etc., the joining apparatus joins an overlap region of the plastic film tube for effectively sealing and creating the plastic film tube. The joining apparatus includes an inner shoe located inside the formed tube. The overlap region slides over the inside shoe as the tube is formed. An outside shoe is moveable between an idle position away from and an operative position adjacent to the inside shoe. When in its operative position, the overlap region is sandwiched between the outside and inside shoes and heated air is provided under pressure through a groove on the outside shoe and onto the overlap region for effectively heating and joining the overlapped plastic sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Chris Allen Honegger
  • Patent number: 8215086
    Abstract: A rewinder machine for the production of rolls of web material is described, comprising: a winder unit (3, 5, 7); a path for delivering the web material (N) to said winder unit; a system for continuously feeding said web material into said winder unit; a distributor (31) of a sheet material (F) for wrapping the rolls formed by said winder unit, installed and operated so as to deliver a length of sheet material to said winder unit on completion of the winding of each roll without stopping the forward feed of the web material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fabio Perini S.p.A.
    Inventors: Romano Maddaleni, Mauro Gelli
  • Patent number: 8191337
    Abstract: A stretch wrap device for delivering stretch wrap film to a coil of cable or other filament type product being wound on a rotating mandrel and a traversing assembly for delivering stretch wrap film to the coil of cable or other filament type product; the traversing assembly including a stretch wrap module for traversing parallel to the rotating mandrel; the stretch wrap module including a motor and roller assembly for contacting and transporting the stretch wrap film toward the rotating mandrel so that an end of the stretch wrap film engages the coil of cable or other filament type product, and the continued rotation of the mandrel causing the end of the stretch wrap film to cover the surface of the wound coil of cable or other filament type material; the stretch wrap module also includes a compressed air generator and air jets for supporting the end of the stretch wrap film with compressed air, the end of the stretch wrap film engaging the coil of cable or other filament type with the completion of the windi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: REELEX Packaging Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Moore
  • Patent number: 8091326
    Abstract: A combined baler/bale wrapper (1) comprises a chassis (5) on which a baler (10) and a bale wrapper (11) are mounted. The baler (10) comprises a stationary segment (18), a lower segment (19) and an upper segment (20) all of which carry bale forming rollers (25) which define a bale forming chamber (15) within which a round bale (2) is formed. The lower segment (19) and the upper segment (20) are pivotal about first and second pivot axes (35,40), respectively from a bale forming position (FIG. 5) to a discharge position (FIG. 1) for transferring a bale upwardly rearwardly from of the bale forming chamber (15) directly onto first and second bale supporting rollers (50) of the bale wrapper (11). The bale supporting rollers (50) rotate the bale (2) about a first wrapping axis (53) while a carrier ring (55) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers (54) about a second horizontal wrapping axis (56) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale (2) for wrapping thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Welmount Limited
    Inventors: Padraic Christopher McHale, Martin William McHale, James John Heaney, Gerard Patrick Sheridan, Patrick Thomas O'Connor, John Patrick Biggins
  • Patent number: 8069638
    Abstract: A baler for making large cylindrical modules of cotton includes an expansible module-forming chamber comprising a plurality of module-forming belts that are supported in side-by-side relationship across a plurality of fixed and movable belt support rolls. The module-forming chamber includes a fixed front section and a movable rear section in the form of a discharge gate mounted to an upper rear location of the front section for pivoting between a lowered baling position and a raised discharge position. Located at the bottom of the baling chamber between a bottom fixed belt support roll and a lower front roll of the lowered discharge gate is an inlet through which cotton passes into the module-forming chamber. A module wrapping arrangement is carried on the discharge gate for selectively feeding a length of plastic sheet material into the inlet for being wrapped about the circumference of a cotton module formed in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Wigdahl, Scott David Weber
  • Patent number: 8042460
    Abstract: A head unit for coil packaging is disclosed to transfer and fasten band for fixing a packaging material to a coil. The head unit for coil packaging, including: a band transfer unit that transfers a front end of a band supplied for coil packaging to a position at which a robot for winding the band to a coil can grip the front end of the band, and transfers the front end of the band such that it overlaps with the band as the robot provides the front end of the band wound on the coil; and a band fastening unit that fastens the front end of the band to the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Posco M-Tech
    Inventor: Seung Yong Song
  • Patent number: 8037661
    Abstract: A shuttle change system for use in a wrapping apparatus for wrapping an associated item is disclosed. The wrapping apparatus includes a shuttle that moves along the inner periphery of a track dispensing a wrapping material. The shuttle change system includes a carrier and a pair of track sections mounted to the carrier. The track sections are spaced from one another and parallel to one another, each adapted to support a shuttle. The carrier is moveable vertically, longitudinally and laterally to align either of the pair of tracks with the cantilevered base portion of the track. One of the tracks is adapted to receive a shuttle to be replaced and the other of the tracks is adapted to store a replacement shuttle for movement onto the track. The carrier is movable away from the track to permit the openable track portion to open and close without interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid M. Albert, Jeffrey G. Kellermann
  • Patent number: 7963087
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wrapping device, which includes a frame, a wrapping ring arranged to move relative to the frame, which in the wrapping position is arranged to travel through the center hole of the piece being wrapped, and which, in the vertical direction, can be at least partly moved away from the wrapping position, in order to change the piece being wrapped, and a wrapping head arranged to rotate around the wrapping ring, in order to wrap the wrapping material around the piece. The wrapping ring can be moved away from inside the center hole of the piece being wrapped, in order to move the wrapping ring in its entirety away from the said wrapping position. In addition, the invention also relates to a method for operating the wrapping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: KNA Corporation Oy
    Inventor: Juha-Matti Länsikallio
  • Publication number: 20100257816
    Abstract: A film-tail clamp, cut, and seal system for use in a wrapping apparatus for wrapping an associated item has an oval track vertically oriented and openable to move into and out of the associated item. A shuttle is configured for movement along an inner periphery of the track. A wrapping material is dispensed from the shuttle for wrapping around the item. A clamp arm, which is movable into and out of a plane defined by the film being wrapped around the item, has a sealing element for contacting and sealing a free end portion of the film onto a portion of the film already wrapped around the item. The clamp arm also has a clamp for securing the film when the film is sealed and has a cutter for cutting the free end portion of the film from the portion sealed onto the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOK WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Leonid M. Albert, Jeffrey G. Kellermann
  • Publication number: 20100239732
    Abstract: A meat trussing system is provided which incorporates the use of an elastomeric net to receive and restrain meats and other food components, both unitary and combinations including independent meat and/or food elements. At least one flexible wrapper is provided into which the meat and/or food products are encased forming a cylindrical circumferential wrap having a low coefficient of friction with respect to the elastomeric net. The wrapper permits a relatively easy insertion of the wrapped food products into the elastomeric net. The wrapper is preferably provided with at least one perforation adapted to be circumferentially disposed near the midpoint of the food products within the elastomeric net. A method of use includes the deformation of the meat and/or food product. In order to sever the perforation which permits the relatively easy removal of the now separated wrapper portions from between the meat and/or food products and the elastomeric net.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel Droz, Donald G. Sartore, William L. Sartore
  • Publication number: 20100192513
    Abstract: A baler for making large cylindrical modules of cotton includes an expansible module-forming chamber comprising a plurality of module-forming belts that are supported in side-by-side relationship across a plurality of fixed and movable belt support rolls. The module-forming chamber includes a fixed front section and a movable rear section in the form of a discharge gate mounted to an upper rear location of the front section for pivoting between a lowered baling position and a raised discharge position. Located at the bottom of the baling chamber between a bottom fixed belt support roll and a lower front roll of the lowered discharge gate is an inlet through which cotton passes into the module-forming chamber. A module wrapping arrangement is carried on the discharge gate for selectively feeding a length of plastic sheet material into the inlet for being wrapped about the circumference of a cotton module formed in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Wigdahl, Scott David Weber
  • Publication number: 20100139211
    Abstract: A stretch wrap device for delivering stretch wrap film to a coil of cable or other filament type product being wound on a rotating mandrel and a traversing assembly for delivering stretch wrap film to the coil of cable or other filament type product; the traversing assembly including a stretch wrap module for traversing parallel to the rotating mandrel; the stretch wrap module including a motor and roller assembly for contacting and transporting the stretch wrap film toward the rotating mandrel so that an end of the stretch wrap film engages the coil of cable or other filament type product, and the continued rotation of the mandrel causing the end of the stretch wrap film to cover the surface of the wound coil of cable or other filament type material; the stretch wrap module also includes a compressed air generator and air jets for supporting the end of the stretch wrap film with compressed air, the end of the stretch wrap film engaging the coil of cable or other filament type with the completion of the windi
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Brian Moore
  • Patent number: 7698876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for packaging paper, pulp, or board reels (1). In the method the reel (1) is brought to a wrapping station, which comprises supporting elements (2, 2?) for supporting the reel (1) during wrapping end shields (7) are brought to the ends of the reel (1), wrapping material is wrapped around the reel (1), and the reel (1) is moved away from the wrapping station. According to the invention, the end shields (7) are brought to the ends of the reel (1) from the same side of the supporting elements (2, 2?) as the wrapping material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Jukka Mäkinen
  • Publication number: 20100000895
    Abstract: An overwrap provides cushioning and protection for an object, stored in a bag or other container, during transport and/or storage. The overwrap has a generally smooth exterior surface and textured interior surface that is pliable for conforming to bumps or other raised portions of the object thereby providing a generally smooth exterior covering that minimizes frictional forces with the bag. The overwrap may include one or more folding scores that allow the body of the overwrap to bend into a channel. A plurality of material discontinuities may also be included that allow the overwrap of conform to the object without bunching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventor: Paul A. WEISSBROD
  • Publication number: 20090308267
    Abstract: A head unit for coil packaging is disclosed to transfer and fasten band for fixing a packaging material to a coil. The head unit for coil packaging, including: a band transfer unit that transfers a front end of a band supplied for coil packaging to a position at which a robot for winding the band to a coil can grip the front end of the band, and transfers the front end of the band such that it overlaps with the band as the robot provides the front end of the band wound on the coil; and a band fastening unit that fastens the front end of the band to the band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: SAMJUNG PACKING & ALUMINIUM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Yong Song
  • Patent number: 7625332
    Abstract: A composite netting is used for wrapping bales with a baling machine. The composite netting includes a continuous netting component, and a discontinuous, breathable material component. The breathable material component is partially attached to the netting material. In some embodiments, the breathable material is attached only along the leading edge of each breathable material panel. As a result of the attaching technique the stretching properties of the netting are not transferred to the breathable material. Thus, each component of the netting retains its individual properties. Each bale is initially wrapped with about one wrapping of netting material, followed by about one wrapping of breathable material and a partially attached net that is continuous from the first section. After this, one or more additional netting layers may be applied if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Tama Plastic Industry
    Inventors: Nissim Mass, Tsafrir Lior, Hagai Paz, Yuval Lieber, Zvi Paz
  • Patent number: 7559182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for placing end shields on the ends of paper, pulp, or board reels (1) in connection with packing. The arrangement comprises at least one first conveyor (1) for transporting the reels (3) in a direction parallel to their axes and at least one station (4) for placing at least one inner end shield on the end of a reel (5). Next to the first conveyor (1) there are elements (8, 9) for placing an inner end shield and after the station there are elements (1) for changing the direction of the axis of the reel (5), relative to the first direction of travel, after the placing of the inner end shields, and elements for placing at least one outer end shield on the end of the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Harri Lindberg
  • Patent number: 7513089
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for a wrapping apparatus and associated methods and a cassette device for holding utensils. The wrapping apparatus may include a first holder for holding first items to be wrapped. The wrap is placed on a rotating table when the rotating table is rotated into a first position. One of the first items to be wrapped is moved from the first holder onto the wrap on the rotating table when the rotating table is rotated to a second position. A wrapping mechanism then wraps the first item in the wrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: Richard Howard Rubin
  • Patent number: 7338421
    Abstract: Filters for tobacco products are manufactured by a device comprising a conveyor drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and furnished with peripheral grooves, each holding a leaf of paper material preassembled with a first filter element. The single groove is flanked by two tubular elements arranged symmetrically on either side of the drum, slidable axially between a first position located externally of the groove and a second position located internally of the groove, also by pushers slidable within the respective tubular elements and serving to direct second and third filter elements into contact with the end faces of the first filter element in such a way that the second filter element, which consists in a measure of powder or granular material deposited in each tubular element by way of a spool valve, remains interposed between the first and the third filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ivan Eusepi, Armando Turrini, Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 7032361
    Abstract: A system for automatically packaging photosensitive rolls includes a flanged member installing device for selecting flanged members corresponding to a photosensitive roll and automatically installing the flanged members respectively on opposite ends of the photosensitive roll, a tape member applying device for automatically applying a joint tape to an end of the photosensitive roll, a packaging sheet working device for automatically processing light-shielding leaders to dimensions corresponding to the photosensitive roll, an applying mechanism for automatically applying the processed light-shielding leaders to the photosensitive roll, and a packaging sheet takeup device for automatically winding the light-shielding leaders around the photosensitive roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Kadota, Kazuo Okutsu, Koji Tsujimura, Katsumi Tashiro, Kunihiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 6973764
    Abstract: A protector for sheet metal coil is formed of plastic with a flange and sleeve which are joined together at a ridge portion. The protectors incorporate symmetrically disposed groupings of stacking features or components which include a finger within a stacking access opening, a stacking tab, and a stacking opening. The fingers are employed to resiliently engage the inner surface of a core of a coil and incorporate a receiver surface for freely abuttable engagement with a stacking tab of a second protector when arranged in mutual stacking relationship. The stacking openings function for stacking purposes to receive the protruding finger of a next stack protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: ITW Fleetwood-Signode
    Inventors: Paul G. Bordner, Bret D. Bordner, Jeffrey G. Kellermann
  • Patent number: 6851252
    Abstract: A wrapping device provides at least a circular track structure which forms a closed track, and a film feeding device which is arranged to circulate along the track and to feed a film around a piece to be wrapped. The film feeding device includes a frame structure with a rotatable film roll and a feeding mechanism through which the film is arranged to be fed at a desired film tension. The frame structure can be disconnected from and reconnected to the film feeding device for the change of the film roll, and for the change of the film roll, the wrapping device also includes an automatic change system for the change of the frame structure. The frame structure is an integrated unit which can be independently disconnected from and reconnected to the film feeding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: PESMEL Oy
    Inventors: Hannu Mäki-Rahkola, Jari Mäki-Rahkola, Tapio Tuomiranta
  • Patent number: 6840023
    Abstract: A combined large round baler and whole bale wrapping apparatus includes a wheeled chassis carrying and extending between the baler and the wrapping apparatus and including tandem wheels carried at opposite ends of walking beams. A lower region of the baler is secured to the front of the chassis. First and second braces are fixed to, and diverge upwardly from, a fore-and-aft middle location of the chassis respectively to the hinge joint between the front and rear sections of the baler and a wrapping arm assembly. A tie-bar extends between the two braces. The wrapping apparatus includes a wrapping table mounted to the chassis for fore-and-aft movement between a receiving position, wherein it is disposed for receiving a bale formed by the baler, and a wrapping position, wherein it is located centrally below the wrapping arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Arsene Roth, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6775961
    Abstract: A device for tensioning web, such as a plastics web dispensed from a shuttle in a wrapping machine, is disclosed. The wrapping machine usually includes an endless track positioned about an object to be wrapped and the shuttle travels on the endless track, dispensing the web as it goes. The rate at which web is dispensed varies as the shuttle progresses around the track and is dependent upon the shape of the track and the shape of the object to be wrapped. The web tensioning device attempts to maintain a constant tension in the web and includes a pair of rollers covered with resilient material. The rollers are urged together to form a nip with the resilient covering of the rollers compressed in the nip. The web is fed between the nip of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: ITW LTD
    Inventors: Peter William Cook, Christopher Brunning
  • Patent number: 6745676
    Abstract: A method for packaging skeins shaped as a circular ring of a flexible element of elongated shape, in particular a cable or a hose, wherein the turns are held unitarily to each other, comprises the following phases: sustaining the skein in overhang towards a binding station holding it by the clamping of opposite planar aces of the skein effected in correspondence with at least a first portion of the skein; binding the skein in correspondence with at least its second, free, portion which projects from the first held portion; rotating the skein around its own axis of symmetry by a predetermined angle with respect to the position of the skein in the previous binding phase; and binding the skein again in correspondence with its own rotated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: SICA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Mazzoni, Marco Mazzanti
  • Patent number: 6705060
    Abstract: This disclosure describes an apparatus for wrapping all exposed surfaces of a large annular coil, including its hollow cylindrical core, to prevent contamination and to prepare it for shipping. A pair of opposing robotic arms hand off or transfer a roll of wrapping material, such as paper or plastic, from a gripper on one arm to a gripper on the other arm. The arms travel around both ends of the coil, handing off the roll back and forth above the coil and in the center of its hollow core, as it is slowly rotated by a variable-speed coil roller. The speed of the coil roller is adjusted such that the wrap overlaps during each successive pass around the coil, thereby ensuring its sealed integrity. A compact variable-tensioning mechanism, inserted into the roll, maintains constant tension on the wrapping material to keep it taut while being pulled around the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: James McGuinness, Jan E Rhoads
  • Patent number: 6688076
    Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping articles having a central axial opening includes a guide arm and article turning gear. The guide arm supports a ring member in the form of a split frame having an inside and outside diameter. A drive wheel is mounted on the guide arm, is rotatable about a vertical axis and is in frictional engagement with the outside diameter of the ring member. A plurality of guide rollers, mounted upon the guide arm and which support the ring member, are angularly spaced apart about a ring axis and rotatable about vertical axes, and are disposed adjacent to both the inside and outside diameters of the frame of the ring member. Film material carriage spools are adjustably mounted on the ring member and carried by the ring member through the central axial opening and around the external surfaces of the coil. The ring member is rotatable about the ring axis and causes the film carriage spools to follow an orbital path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Victor M. Rivera, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6594976
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging apparatus that supplies the packaging material by the packing material supply means provided independently of the mobile body that moves along the annular guide body. In order to achieve the object, the packaging apparatus of the present invention comprises a mobile body for leading a packaging material, an annular guide body for guiding said mobile body along said annular guide body, mobile body drive means for moving the mobile body along the annular guide body, and packaging material supply means disposed outside said annular guide body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kohan Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Chikamitsu, Ryozo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6546852
    Abstract: A method for packaging skeins shaped as a circular ring of a flexible element of elongated shape, in particular a cable or a hose, wherein the turns are held unitarily to each other, comprises the following phases: sustaining the skein in overhang towards a binding station holding it by the clamping of opposite planar faces of the skein effected in correspondence with at least a first portion of the skein; binding the skein in correspondence with at least its second, free, portion which projects from the first held portion; rotating the skein around its own axis of symmetry by a predetermined angle with respect to the position of the skein in the previous binding phase; and binding the skein again in correspondence with its own rotated position. The invention further relates to a machine that realizes the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: SICA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Mazzoni, Marco Mazzanti
  • Patent number: 6520445
    Abstract: A coil wrapping machine having an annular frame with a track encircling an opening in the frame. A carriage assembly is mounted for movement on the track around the opening, the carriage being configured to dispense wrapping material onto the coil. An endless flexible strand is provided on the frame and extends around the opening adjacent the track and is coupled to a drive motor so that the flexible strand is driven circumferentially of the opening and causes a corresponding movement of the carriage assembly fastened thereto. The coil is mounted on a support with a control being provided for controlling the relative speed of movement between the part of the coil moving through the opening in the frame and, simultaneously, a speed of movement of the carriage assembly around the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Inventor: Luiz Henrique Araujo
  • Publication number: 20030019185
    Abstract: When packaging a roll product in which a belt-shaped sensitized material has been wound around a core with a light shielding sheet, the packaging apparatus is capable of forming an angle pleated portion of a gather-folded portion which covers a roll end surface with stability, and the package of roll product is capable of retaining the light shielding property and the moisture resistance while making the area of the sheet as small as possible. The gather-folding apparatus forms angle pleated portions on end surface wrapping material by means of both plate-shaped folding members which come into plane contact from outside of the end surface wrapping material and inter support arms which come into line-contact with the inner peripheral surface of the end surface wrapping material. This gather-folding apparatus forms, by means of both the surfaces of the plate-shaped folding members and the line of the inter support arm, two planes of folded planes sandwiching the line concerned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobumitsu Takahashi, Makoto Ikeda, Kunihiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 6446418
    Abstract: A circular track (11) constructed to open and close supports a truck (4) riding on the track (11). A packaging material feeder (7) is mounted on the truck (4) to feed packaging material (6) from a packaging material coil (5). Part of the item for packaging (8) is placed in the closed circular track (11) and is supported by means of a support (9). A drive mechanism for moving the truck (12) is set along the circular track (11) and is engaged with the truck (4) . The drive mechanism is operated with a motor stationarily mounted to the track to move the truck along the circular track (11). There is no need to mount the motor to the truck. Accordingly, it is possible to make the truck compact and decrease the curvature radius of each corner of the circular track. This results in the possibility of wrapping a relatively large item for packaging and at the same time make a packaging device simple and compact in its entirety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Maekawa, Mitsuharu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6324820
    Abstract: A wrapping machine for wrapping a generally toroidal body having an opening therethrough with an elongated length of wrapping material has supports for a body to be wrapped with the central axis of the opening through the body in a predetermined position and a shuttle for carrying a spool of wrapping material and for the controlled dispensing of the wrapping material. A wrapping frame has four transfer assemblies arranged in a generally rectangular array, one of the transfer assemblies being positionable through the opening in the body. The transfer assemblies include first and second transfer assemblies each having rails for receiving the shuttle at one end and conveying the shuttle to the opposite end, the first and second transfer assemblies being positioned at opposite sides of the rectangular array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Intergrated Industrial Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Gelfman, Spanakos Chris, Melvin G. Parnes
  • Patent number: 6305145
    Abstract: Wrapping apparatus for winding a wrapping foil web (F) around an object (1) includes a foil dispenser (2) arranged to circulate along a ring-like endless track (3) around the object to be packaged. The foil dispenser (2) comprises a frame (4), a detachable and replaceable foil roll (5) mounted on the frame, supporting elements (6) for supporting the foil roll on the frame, and tensioning arrangements (7) for braking foil delivery from the roll and maintaining a predetermined foil tension. The tensioning arrangements (7) comprise a sensor (8) for detecting foil web tension, and an electric motor (9) for driving the foil roll (5). The torque, speed of rotation and direction of rotation of the electric motor is controlled on the basis of foil tension as detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Oy M. Haloila AB
    Inventor: Yrjö Suolahti
  • Patent number: 6192653
    Abstract: A circular track (11) constructed to open and close supports a truck (4) riding on the track (11). A packaging material feeder (7) is mounted on the truck (4) to feed packaging material (6) from a packaging material coil (5). Part of the item for packaging (8) is placed in the closed circular track (11) and is supported by means of a support (9). A drive mechanism for moving the truck (12) is set along the circular track (11) and is engaged with the truck (4). The drive mechanism is operated with a motor stationarily mounted to the track to move the truck along the circular track (11). There is no need to mount the motor to the truck. Accordingly, it is possible to make the truck compact and decrease the curvature radius of each corner of the circular track. This results in the possibility of wrapping a relatively large item for packaging and at the same time make a packaging device simple and compact in its entirety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Maekawa, Mitsuharu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6192656
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus packages a cylindrical article having a hollow region therein by gathering an end of a wide packaging sheet wrapped around the cylindrical article, and pressing the gathered end into the hollow region in the cylindrical article. The gathered end of the packaging sheet is pressed into the hollow region in the cylindrical article by a presser which has an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow region and an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of a core tube used to gather the end of the packaging sheet. The core tube is withdrawn from the hollow region before the gathered end of the packaging sheet is fully pressed into the hollow region by the presser. The packaging apparatus can reliably gather and squeeze a packaging sheet having long opposite ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6178385
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for checking a wrapping state of a wrapped roll having end face covers by detecting the force required to press-fit a bushing into a cylindrical core tube and comparing the detected force with a threshold value which is based on the correlation between the force required to press-fit the bushing into the cylindrical core tube and the state of tucking of the end face covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Takahashi, Toshikazu Ishii, Satoshi Mino, Takayuki Fujiwara, Yoshio Kawakami, Kenji Ozawa
  • Patent number: 6164585
    Abstract: A roll storage arrangement for sheet-like articles, in particular banknotes, having two roll cores, each of which is connected to a drive whose driving direction can be reversed, and between which a common storage tape can be rereeled. The storage tape is subdivided into logical sectors, which follow one another in the tape longitudinal direction and each accommodate an article to be stored. Arranged between the roll cores is an input/output feed unit, which is optionally adjustable between a rest position and an input/output feed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Nixdorf Informationsystem Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernhard Lutz
  • Patent number: 6109003
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the fixed combination of side-fold bags to form stacks. The side-fold bags to be combined, arriving from a machine which produces side-fold bags, are previously separated into stacks of a controlled quantity. During combining, each stack is oriented in relation to a perforating station, pressed together and punched with at least two through-holes. Each stack is interlockingly bundled by at least one intermediate fixation element, which is force-lockingly closed to form a loop, for the purpose of being further used in an automatic goods packing machine, where each stack is fixedly held in a packaging station by a fixing element in the shape of a hoop, which penetrates through the holes, wherein the intermediate fixation element is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hinterkopf GmbH
    Inventor: Gottlieb Benz
  • Patent number: 6098371
    Abstract: The machine comprises a main carousel including a horizontal axis having seats which are angularly equidistant and open outwardly and including at the front a gripper and at the rear a folding device. Each seat passes first adjustable means with the gripper open to supply the gripper with a packaging sheet arranged on the seat, and cooperating with a first auxiliary carousel which inserts a roll into each seat, oriented with its axis parallel to that of the main carousel, while the roll is partially wrapped with the packaging sheet retained by the closed gripper. In succession, the rear folding device intervenes and the gripper opens and folding means intervene in order to fold the front edge of the sheet onto the rear edge, while the folding device returns to the rest position and the edges are fixed together by a heat-sealing carousel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Casmatic S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Cassoli, Giordano Gorrieri, Giorgio Bonafe', Gianni Mantovani
  • Patent number: 6067774
    Abstract: Process and device for packaging foodstuffs having a recess, such as meats and sausages and gutted poultry, in which a previously sealed tubular section is taken through the aperture by means of an insertion pin, whereafter one end of the tubular section is turned back around the hollow body towards the other end in order to fully encase the foodstuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinrich Sauer