Abstract: A large round baler includes mechanism for optionally wrapping a bale with either twine or a surface wrap material. A wrap control mechanism includes means whereby the wrapping process is initiated in response to a bale reaching a desired diameter within the bale chamber. Various microswitches are strategically mounted so as to be operated by various components of the twine and surface wrap mechanisms and the control mechanism therefor. These switches are integrated into an indicator circuit including indicator devices including various colored lights and a buzzer all of which are caused to operate in various modes to apprise an operator of when the wrapping process is beginning, whether or not twine or surface wrap material is present, when wrapping is complete and when the surface wrap material has been severed.

Abstract: A wrap holder having closable jaws is positioned on a rotatable bale platform beneath a wrap dispenser on a stationary support frame. Rotation of the platform and/or bale will cause the bale to be wrapped. Upon completion of the wrapping the platform is raised allowing the wrap holder to reengage the wrap between the bale and the wrap dispenser. Continued tilting of the platform causes the bale to roll off onto the ground severing the wrap while leaving it attached to the wrap holder. The platform is lowered and is now ready for receiving another bale and the wrapping process is repeated without the operator leaving the prime mover.

Abstract: A spreader is positioned downstream of stretching rollers arranged to stretch a plastic film laterally and longitudinally. The spreader comprises a plurality of freely rotatable rollers arranged along an arc so as to spread the stretched plastic film laterally. A pair of guide rollers are provided for guiding the spread and stretched plastic film to a load.

Abstract: A device assembly for wrapping a heat sealing plastic film around an article at a packing station comprises a cylindrical member having a length greater than the width of the plastic film and movable towards and away from the packing station. The cylindrical member comprises a curved external surface, a heater mounted on the curved external surface for heating the plastic film for heat bonding the plastic film to the surface of the article, a cutting device mounted in the cylindrical member for cutting the plastic film, and a retaining device provided on the external surface of the cylindrical member for retaining the trailing edge of the plastic film on the external surface.

Abstract: A round bale press comprises a unit forming a winding chamber having a product supply opening, a wrapping material supply unit for supplying a material for wrapping a finished bale, a wrapping material pulling unit for pulling the wrapping material of a predetermined length from the wrapping material supply unit and supplying the wrapping material into the winding chamber for wrapping the finished bale, a width stretching unit for stretching the pulled wrapping material before entering the winding chamber. The width stretching unit is arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the press and has a width corresponding at least to a width of a bale to be wrapped. The width stretching unit includes a guiding surface operable for changing the wrapping material from a straight position to a non-straight, roof-shaped position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device assembly for wrapping a heat sealing plastic film (3) coiled from a store roll (2) in a packing machine around goods (5) at a packing station (4), the device assembly comprising means movable towards the packing station to carry out the following periodical actions on the plastic film (3) coiled from the store roll (2)pressing it against the surface of the goods (5) at the packing station (4)heatingcutting andretaining the cut off end.The device assembly comprises a cylinder (1) having a length that is greater than the width of the plastic film (3) and movable towards the packing station (4) and away from it, at least two of the following being provided on its circumferential surface: a heating, retaining and a cutting zone.

Abstract: A carriage for unwinding packaging film and incorporation in a packaging machine, comprising a stand carrying a supporting shaft for a film reel and a roller device carried by the stand and comprising two main rollers including upstream and downstream rollers with parallel axes of rotation and set transversely apart but near to one another to define therebetween a passage for the packaging film having an entry orifice and an exit orifice, the two main rollers being simultaneously rotatable about their respective axes in opposite directions by drive means. Two film guide rollers including an upstream and a downstream guide roller are respectively associated with the upstream and downstream main rollers and have axes of rotation parallel to one another and to the axes of rotation of the main rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a bale of agricultural product with protective material prior to ejection from a baler wherein the apparatus is attachable to most commercial balers, the material can both protect and bind the bale, material of a width less than the width of the bale can be used, and the bale can be wrapped with a spiral wrap of material at both its nominal width and in a gathered narrow rope-like width.

Abstract: A device for emptying a barrel having a highly viscous content by pushing a piston into the barrel. In order to prevent the barrel from being deformed or damaged, the device includes a turntable onto which the barrel can be mounted. The barrel can be reinforced on its outer periphery by means of a flexible looping element wound therearound, which looping element is unwound from or wound onto a drum.

Abstract: The problem involved in wrapping a stretched plastic film around a load by rotating the load and the plastic film feed roll is often that the film will not adapt well enough to the shape of the load, will not form an elastically tensioned package, and will not necessarily be by its stretch ratio and thickness sufficiently uniform and suitable for the product in question. In the present invention, a method has been developed for wrapping a stretched plastic film around the circumference of a load by rotating the load and the plastic film feed roll each about its axis in order to unwind the stretchable plastic film from the feed roll and to wrap the stretched plastic film around the circumference of the load and by braking the plastic film in order to stretch it between the braking point and the wrapping point. The advantages of the invention are based on the fact the braking power which induces the stretching of the plastic film is regulated on the basis of the circumferential speed of the load.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping cylindrical bales comprises an open-fronted wheeled frame for attachment to a towing vehicle, a roller extending transversely of the rear of the frame, and a pair of semi-rollers mounted at or adjacent the forward free end of each side member of the frame to be pivotal between an inoperative position extending fore and aft of the frame and an operative position extending transversely across the open front of the frame, in which position a bale within the frame is rotatably supported by the rear roller and the front semi-rollers. During this rotation of the bale, the bale is wrapped in stretchable film material by a wrapping mechanism on the machine, on completion of which wrapping the semi-rollers are raised relative to the frame to tip the wrapped bale rearwardly of the machine over the rear roller and onto the ground.

Abstract: The present invention involves methods and apparatus for winding imbricated formations of multi-sheeted, twice-folded printing products into a roll together with a winding band wherein the individual multi-sheeted, twice-folded printing products are skewed in relation to the conveying direction of the imbricated formation by a small angle. The laterally protruding corners of the printing products lie on imaginary straight lines which run parallel to the conveying direction. The lateral fold edges of the printing products are mutually offset by a certain amount in a direction running transversely to the conveying direction. The lateral fold edges therefore do not end up one on top of the other during winding, as a result of which a thickening on one side of the roll is avoided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing a top sheet and stretch wrapping includes a dispenser for dispensing a sheet from a roll of sheet material and a trough for receiving, containing and collapsing the dispensed sheet. A circulating bar draws the dispensed sheet from the trough over the top of a load by moving from a starting position to a finishing position above and across the top of the load while another bar returns from the finishing position to the starting position to position the dispensed sheet proximate to a hot wire which severs the sheet from the roll from which it is dispensed. A suspended flexible strip rests on top of the load for holding the sheet in place on top of the load. The trough, circulating bars and depending flexible strip are mounted on a frame which is movable in the vertical direction.

Abstract: In a load wrapping apparatus of the kind which a load is wrapped by a wrapping strip of plastics material, which is delivered to a wrapping position from a reel to the load to be wrapped by producing relative rotational movement between the load and the strip material wherein extended area rotatable discs are arranged as to cooperate during the wrapping of a bale, with predetermined regions of a bale in the vicinity of its contact with the support table as to prevent displacement of the bale during the wrapping thereof. Conveniently the support for the load is mounted for rotation the bale about two axes at right angles to each other. Conveniently the rotatable discs comprise for each end of the load i.e., bale, a disc presenting a convex form towards the end regions of a bale being wrapped.

Abstract: A palletizer, having a stacking and article wrapping station, includes a rotatable circular plate having a rectangular opening therein for accommodating unstable articles as they are being stacked. The rectangular opening includes article guides which will support a stacked layer of articles prior to and during the wrapping of the articles.

Abstract: The invention involves a method of wrapping a roll wherein a sleeve wrap having a width substantially equal to the width of the paper roll is wraped around the cylindrical portion of the roll. A head of the same size as the end of the roll is coupled to each end of the roll. A stretch wrap is then wrapped around the ends of the roll so that approximately one-half of the stretch wrap covers a portion of the end of the roll and the other one-half lies in the same plane as the head. An end band may also be wrapped over the stretch wrap at each end of the roll. The invention also involves an apparatus that includes a trim slitter for trimming the sleeve wrap to the same size as the width of the roll.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping a load with wrapping material includes a frame, a platform pivotally connected to the frame about a horizontal axis to permit the platform to be tilted between a generally horizontal position and an inclined position. A load support including a pair of rollers is turnably mounted to the platform to permit the load support to be turned about a turning axis perpendicular to the platform, the rollers permitting the load to be rotated about a rotating axis transverse to the turning axis. A wrapping material dispenser is selectively positionable with respect to the frame for dispensing a strip of wrapping material to wrap said load as the load is rotated by the load rotating means and as the load support is turend with respect to the platform. A load support arresting mechanism for arresting the turning of the load support at a preselected position with respect to the platform includes a lever having a first end pivoted to the platform and a second end adapted to contact the load support.

Abstract: In a vertical and helical banding machine having a rotary table, a carriage mounted on a mast secured to a stand is driven between upper and lower positions and has a delivery roller rotatable about a vertically stationary axis for passing the banding film to helically wrap or band the load. The carriage includes a support for changing the direction of banding film from a horizontal to a veritcal position as the film is delivered to the delivery roll. A prestretching mechanism is provided for prestretching the film prior to delivery to the carriage. The mechanism includes a horizontal vertically movable bearing roller carrying the film reel and a horizontal support roller parallel to the bearing roller and positioned beneath the film reel and supporting same whereby the lower horizontal generatrix between the reel of film and the support roller forms a constant reference to control the speed of film being unwound from the reel and in conjunction therewith acts as a prestretching mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping cylindrical bales of crop material formed in a bale forming chamber of an agricultural baler with sheet material such as net or plastic film. The apparatus includes a dispensing mechanism which is movable from a retracted position to a dispensing position for inserting a tail of the sheet material into the bale forming chamber of the baler so that the sheet material is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale disposed therein. The dispensing mechanism is comprised of a pair of clamping members that grip the tail of the sheet material and between which the sheet material is dispensed during bale wrapping. The apparatus also includes a motor and a plurality of links for moving the dispensing mechanism between its retracted and dispensing positions.

Abstract: The invention is an improved bale handling and wrapping apparatus adapted to be fitted on the front-end loader or three-point hitch of a power source. The round bale handler of the present invention is capable of handling, stacking, transporting, wrapping and dispensing bales of hay. A spindle probe adapted to engage the bale of hay is mounted for lateral movement on a transverse frame. The frame extends outwardly to one side of the power source beyond the line of travel. A removable wrapping arm is fitted on the frame. The spindle probe can be moved laterally across the frame to accommodate bales of varying diameters, such that the wrapping arm is positioned adjacent the outer most portion of the bale. Thereafter the spindle is rotated and the wrapping material applied to the bale.

Abstract: Uninspected bundles of paper sheets are supplied to each of a plurality of pre-processors in units of bundles. Each pre-processor removes a band from the uninspected bundle, prints a serial number in association with the received paper sheets on the band, and holds the band. A number of reusable paper sheets from which the band is removed are counted by and stored in a corresponding inspection device. Each inspection device stores the serial number printed on the band by the preprocessor. In each inspection device, the paper sheets to be re-inspected are sorted by a separator card in units of bundles and stored as rejectable notes in a rejectable note cassette. A center console receives data such as a count result, band number, cassette number, card number, and the like, from each inspection device, and sequentially stores these data in units of inspection devices.

Abstract: An article stack unifying device having article stacking elements is provided to stack a plurality of articles on a surface on or of a rotatable surface. While the articles are being stacked on the selected surface a quantity of wrapping film is wrapped around the stack of articles at intervals during the stacking process and at the completion of the stack.

Abstract: A packaging system wraps a sheet material around an article supplied at an article supply station and discharges the article at a discharge station. The packaging system includes a turret which is intermittently rotated by 180.degree., a pair of body wrapping mechanisms which are provided on the turret at an interval of 180.degree. so that they are alternately positioned at the article supply station and the article discharge station when the turret is stopped. Each of the body wrapping mechanisms wraps the sheet material around the body of the article while the body wrapping mechanism is rotated from the article supply station to the article discharge station. A sheet supply mechanism supplies the sheet material, while the turret is stopped, from outside to a predetermined position on the turret where the sheet material can be supplied to the body wrapping mechanism.

Abstract: A plastic film is stretched both breadthwise and longitudinally just before it is wound around a load for wrapping. Stretching of the film is performed by passing the film between stretching rolls each having alternate peripheral ridges and grooves and arranged such that the ridges on each roll mesh with the grooves on the other roll.

Abstract: A round baler includes a bale chamber in which, in use of the baler, a bale of crop material is formed; a source of bale wrapping material; bale wrapping control apparatus; and a knife operable under the control of the wrapping control means to cut the wrapping material. The bale wrapping control apparatus comprises a first set of worm and sector gears operable to drive the knife to a position ready for cutting the bale wrapping material and a second set of worm and sector gears operable to determine the length of wrapping material to be dispensed from the source of wrapping material for wrapping a given bale and then to initiate operation of the knife to effect cutting of the dispensed wrapping means from the source. Both of the worm gears are carried on a single master shaft which is rocked in one direction to activate the first set of gears and in the opposite direction to activate the second set of gears.

Abstract: An article stack unifying device having article stacking elements is provided to stack a plurality of articles on a surface on or of a rotatable surface. While the articles are being stacked on the selected surface a quantity of wrapping film is wrapped around the stack of articles at intervals during the stacking process and at the completion of the stack.

Abstract: An improvement in a stretch wrapped braking apparatus used to restrict a roll of stretch material on a single roller stretch wrapping apparatus. The improved brake uses a modified controlled magnetic motor to impart braking effect indirectly to the roll of stretch material as it is pulled therefrom by a rotating load to be wrapped.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful bale wrapping apparatus comprising a frame, means mounted on the frame for engaging an end of, and lifting, a bale to be wrapped, means associated with the means for engaging for axially rotating the bale when the bale is supported on the means for engaging, a support beam mounted on the frame but offset therefrom for receiving a roll of wrapping material, the beam located radially outwardly of the bale and oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the bale, positioning means mounted on the beam and selectively positionable along the beam for accommodating preselected widths of wrapping material, the widths corresponding substantially to the width of the bale being wrapped, and tensioning means for varying the force required to be exerted on the wrapping material to cause the roll to rotate on the beam to unroll wrapping material.

Abstract: A wrap material guide assembly is positioned beneath a run of each of a plurality of bale-forming belts extending between a lower rear and a lower front roll carried by a discharge gate of a large round baler. The guide assembly includes a guide member including a plurality of relatively narrow slats that are each in engagement with the bottom of a respective one of the bale-forming belt runs. The rear ends of the slats are fixed to a panel that extends transversely beneath and extends behind the lower rear roll and serves to intercept the leading edge of wrap material being fed by feed rolls and to direct the material to a pinch point defined between the panel and the bale-forming belts so that the belts grip and carry the material along the slats and into a bale chamber inlet located just forwardly of the front roll. The front of the slats are fixed to a cross member that is fixed to a belt guide structure positioned adjacent the front roll.

Abstract: Printed products arriving in an imbricated formation are wound-up into a product or package roll about which there is placed a wrapper or envelope which retains together the package roll. For easier handling of the product or package roll such may be provided with an endless carrying loop. This endless carrying loop is formed by a carrying element, such as a knotted cord, rope, string or the like which extends through an internal opening or hollow interior of the product or package roll and to the outer side or surface of such product or package roll.

Abstract: A mechanism for enveloping a large round bale with a surface wrap material such as plastic sheet or net includes a housing for holding a supply roll of the wrap material. The mechanism and, hence, the housing is mounted on the rear of a bale discharge gate. The housing includes a front wall, defined by an upright secured across the rear of the gate, and a bottom wall sloped upwardly and rearwardly relative to the front wall. The bottom wall and front wall converge toward a wrap material passage defined between a forward edge of the bottom wall and the front wall.

Abstract: A mechanism for enveloping a large round bale with a surface wrap material such as plastic sheet or net includes a housing for holding a supply roll of the wrap material. The mechanism and, hence, the housing is mounted on the rear of a bale discharge gate. The housing includes a front wall, defined by an upright panel secured across the rear of the gate, and a bottom wall sloped upwardly and rearwardly relative to the front wall. The bottom wall and front wall converge toward a wrap material passage defined between a forward edge of the bottom wall and the front wall.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly movable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or plastic film, into the bale forming chamber so that it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material disposed in the bale forming chamber. The dispensing mechanism is movable into a dispensing position wherein a tail of the sheet material is inserted through a gap between the apron and one of the rollers of the sledge assembly.

Abstract: A wipe down apparatus for use on web wrapping devices used to unitize a multiple unit wrapped load. The wipe down apparatus includes an extensible wiper support and a wiper element having one or more strips, one of which is double back along a portion of its length to form a load engaging loop. The strips being flexible along focal points when in contact with a load and moving parallel with the load wiping the wrapped load as it passes the wiper support.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping generally cylindrical articles includes a web supply reel, an endless conveyor composed of a multiplicity of spaced-apart rollers for moving the articles along a predetermined path, a device for guiding and feeding the web on to the rollers, a device for feeding articles on to the web at a location at which it has already been guided on to the rollers, and transverse cutters for severing a predetermined portion of the web after an article has been placed thereon. An abutment is mounted along the predetermined path and disposed to tangentially engage the rollers to cause their rotation which, in turn, causes rotation of the articles thereby wrapping a predetermined portion of the web around themselves. The machine also includes an integral heat tunnel and an electronically-controlled drive for accelerating and decelerating the conveyor in timed relation with respect to the movement of the web. A method for wrapping cylindrical articles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanism for enveloping a large round bale with a surface wrap material such as plastic sheet or net includes a housing for holding a supply roll of the wrap material. The mechanism and, hence, the housing is mounted on the rear of a bale discharge gate. The housing includes a front wall defined by an upright panel secured across the rear of the gate and having an upper end portion projecting rearwardly and downwardly and a bottom wall spaced below the upper end portion of and being sloped upwardly and rearwardly relative to the front wall. The housing also includes a cover which is vertically pivotally mounted to a pair of brakets located just beneath the upper end portion of the front wall, the cover having a top wall having a forward edge portion which seals against the bottom of the upper end portion of the front wall when the cover is in a closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping round hay bales includes a load supporting frame having means for mounting to a three-point hitch and a generally horizontally extending dispenser arm. An elongated spindle is rotatably mounted on the frame for engagement with a round hay bale along its longitudinal axis. A spinner plate is also rotatably mounted on the frame coaxially with the spindle and includes prongs for engaging an end of the hay bale. A hydraulic motor is provided for rotating the spinner plate which in turn rotates the hay bale on the spindle. The motor also moves a sheet material dispenser assembly along the dispenser arm at a predetermined rate to helically wrap the material on the exterior of the bale.

Abstract: The round baler for agricultural stalk crops comprises a round-bale wrapping device with a netting web, as well as a separation device for severing the netting web. Said device consists of a beating knife bar and an anvil which is formed as a countercutter and stationarily mounted on the frame and whose surface which is acted upon by the beating knife bar is provided with a plurality of parallel spaced-apart recesses.

Abstract: An elongated strip of baling material has opposite longitudinal edges, each of which includes an elastic element extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip. The width of the strip is greater than the length of the bale so that when the strip is wrapped around a bale, the opposite longitudinal edges of the strip extend radially inwardly to cover the outer peripheral portions of each of the end faces of the bale. The strip is held in place by the elastic elements in the longitudinal edges of the strip to protect the peripheral portions of the end faces of the bale.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exchanging film rolls during a wrapping operation in a wrapping machine which is arranged to wind wrapping film around the product being packaged, the product being stationary or rotated around a horizontal axis. The wrapping machine includes a film distribution sledge provided with tension rolls mounted on a rotatable wrapping crank. A cassette or the like holding a plurality of new film rolls is provided at a film roll exchange station. A transfer sledge removes an old film roll or bushing from the film distribution sledge and transfers a new film roll or bushing from the cassette into the film distribution sledge. A device is provided at the exchange station for passing an end region of the film of the new film roll over the tension rolls of the film distribution sledge to a grasping member during the film roll exchange operation.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping cylindrical rolls of paper wound on a reel having a central core has a loading conveyor and vertically adjustable drive rolls which raise the reel so that its longitudinal axis is placed on an axis of rotation of the wrapping machine. A wrapping head winds wrapping material endwise around the paper roll which is rotated about its longitudinal axis during the wrapping operation by the drive rollers. The wrapping head is tilted at an angle to the vertical so that the endwise wrapping takes place in a plane at an angle to the axis of rotation of the roll so that the wrapping does not cover the ends of the core of the reel.

Abstract: Printed products arriving in imbricated formation are delivered by band conveyors to a wind-up location. At the wind-up location the printed products are wound into a printed product roll by a belt element guided about a winding core. Before the last printed products of the imbricated formation have been delivered to the wind-up location a foil is introduced between these last printed products and the downstream located band conveyor of the aforementioned band conveyors. This foil is wound-up together with the printed products. A tensioned foil section of the foil which has been infed to the wind-up location is severed by a cutter device. The thus formed printed product package composed of printed products is wound-up into a printed product roll and the foil section which extends about the wound-up printed product roll is stripped from the winding core by an ejector device and deposited upon a support table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strip having a longitudinal reinforcement; a packaging method comprising such a strip; an installation and a machine for implementing the packaging method and a device for the production of such a strip. This flexible strip (1), which is more specifically applicable to the construction of packaging, constituted more specifically by a plastic film, of the integrally produced type, wherein it possesses at least one longitudinal zone of reinforcement (2) constituted, at least in part, by N longitudinal zones of folding (3a, 3b, 3N) of the strip (1), adjacent to one another, overlapping one another at least substantially flatly, at least in part, in a single longitudinal region of the strip (1), N being a positive integer at least equal to two.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping cylindrical bales of crop material with netting material includes a feed roller which may be selectively driven to dispense the netting material from a supply roll into a round baler. The apparatus has a home position and a cutting position wherein the feed roller is latched by a latch arm. The apparatus also has a feeding position wherein the feed roller is driven by the PTO of a tractor. A lever mounted for rotation about the axis of the feed roller has an idler pulley on one end thereof engageable with a belt for effecting the driving of the feed roller. The lever also has a rod on the other end thereof connected to a latch arm for effecting the latching of the feed roller. An electrical actuator is connected to the lever for moving the apparatus between the home, feeding, and cutting positions. A knife for cutting the netting material is connected to the lever for movement between a retracted position and an operative position.

Abstract: To protect a round bale of hay from moisture, the bale is engaged by a machine attached to the three point hitch of a conventional farm tractor and then elevated with the hitch. An impervious strip, which is supplied on a roll, is attached at its end to the bale near one end of the bale, and then the machine rotates the bale, causing the strip material to pay off of the roll and wrap around the bale. The roll, which is on a dispenser, is maneuvered along the bale such that the strip wraps spirally around the bale with some overlap between adjacent convolutions of the strip. This forms a sleeve-like cover around the bale for the entire length of the bale. The machine includes a frame which connects to the three point hitch of the tractor and has a horizontal bearing in which a spear shaft rotates. The shaft is quite long and solid, so that as it rotates it may be driven into the bale from one end of the bale.

Abstract: A device for wrapping plastic sheet material around the surface of a round bale of hay. The device is in the form of an attachment for an existing hay baler of the type which is capable of scooping up cut hay and wrapping it into round bales. The attachment of the present invention includes a table mounted at the forward end of the baler, a carriage slidably mounted on the table and movable from side to side across the width of the baler, a cartridge containing a length of plastic sheet material mounted on the carriage, and a plastic sheet guide pivotally mounted at the outer end of the pre-existing twine arm. The carriage is movable from side to side across the table in synchronism with the movement of the twine arm.

Abstract: A dual station wrapping machine for serially wrapping material layers on rolls is disclosed. A conveyor moves a roll to a wrap station where a transfer arm moves the roll to a support roller. An upper hold down roller completes a three point support for the roll. A first station includes a fixed material applicator and a movable material applicator. A second station includes a movable material applicator.

Abstract: A wrapping machine and operation for wrapping a load arranged on a pallet with a stretchable wrapping material under a substantially constant tension during the wrapping operation. The load that is to be wrapped is arranged on a support member which can be rotated for drawing off stretchable wrapping material from a roll of such material. A dispensing mechanism holds the roll of stretchable wrapping material and dispenses the material so that it can be wrapped around the load arranged on the support member. As an alternative to the support member with the load being rotated, the dispensing member can revolve around the support member and the load so as to dispense and wrap the load with the stretchable material. During the wrapping operation, the tension on the portion of the stretchable wrapping material being wrapped around the load is maintained at a substantially constant tension. Prior to actually wrapping the load with the stretchable wrapping material, such material can be prestretched.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unitizing a load of tires stacked in a longitudinal direction. The stack of tires is compressed in the longitudinal direction between two platens located adjacent the ends of the stack of tires. A web is dispensed and stretched along the direction in which it is dispensed. A leading end portion of the web is held adjacent the stack of tires and mandrels are positioned adjacent the ends of the stack of tires. The stack of tires is rotated relative to the web dispenser about its longitudinal axis. The stretched web is wrapped around and onto the compressed stack of tires and the mandrels, forming a tube which extends in the longitudinal direction beyond the stack of tires and on the mandrels. The mandrels are separated from the web and the stack of tires and the web is collapsed from the mandrel onto the stack of tires, covering the sidewalls of the tires at the ends of the stack.

Abstract: A banknote processing system includes a handling apparatus, a convey mechanism, and a plurality of inspecting apparatuses. The handling apparatus has an input portion on which a predetermined number of bundles of banknotes are placed. The bundles are taken out one by one from the input portion by a take-out device and are transferred to the inspecting apparatus by the convey mechanism. In the inspecting apparatus, the banknotes are picked up one by one from the bundles, so as to be inspected. The inspected banknotes are banded to form inspected bundles and are discharged from the inspecting apparatus. The discharged bundles are then transferred by the convey mechanism, and stacked on a stacking portion of the handling apparatus by a take-in device.