Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping a pallet load with a wrapping film applied selectively as a film rope or as a film sheet. The load is supported in an elevated position. A rotary arm supported above the load is arranged to be rotatably driven. An upright member depending from the rotary arm is spaced outwardly from the load in any rotary arm position. A carriage is arranged to be upwardly and downwardly driven along such member. A dispenser on the carriage dispenses the wrapper as a rope or as a sheet. A guide, which comprises a lever and a hook on the lever, is moveable among extended, partly retracted, and fully retracted positions. In the extended position, the guide guides the rope across the respective corners of the load. In the partly retracted position, the guide does not interfere with driving the carriage along the upright member.

Abstract: A palletized load banding machine of the fixed-table and pivoting-axis reel of film type is provided with a set of mechanisms for i) transversely cutting the band of film when activated at the end of load banding, ii) securing, temporarily, the first end part of the band of film originating from the film reel when activated at the beginning of the banding operation, and iii) combining the last end part of the band of film with the banded load when activated at the end of the banding operation. This set of mechanisms is supported by an elevating platform placed beneath the mechanisms and between the mechanisms and the level of the fixed support table to always permit the mechanism to slide vertically in a free, unrestricted space thus preventing any risk of the film interfering with the support table or conveyors for supplying and removing the palletized load during banding of the 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 heat seal assembly and method for securing stretch-film wrapped about a package, which assembly grasps and aligns two strips of roped film wraps, heats adjacent faces of the roped film sections and thereafter compresses these heated faces to weld them to each other and secure the film wrap about the package.

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: This is a stretch bundler for use in bundling a variety of loads. A method and apparatus description defines this invention by the use of the novel film gripper mechanism used. The gripper mechanism stretches the width of a film while holding its leading edge. It then releases the film and continues the bundling operation by rotating a film dispenser thereabout and dispensing the film around 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: In a banding machine of the fixed-table and pivoting reel of film type, a mechanism is provided for deviating and vertically offsetting the downstream, delivered section of the band of film which is actuated during banding, from a state in which deviation and offset are minimal to a condition where the band of film applied to the load is off-set vertically with respect to the reel of film whereby wrinkling of the film is avoided at the lowermost portion of the load.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for wrapping a strip of stretchable plastic cling film around work to be enwrapped (banded) wherein the leading end of the film is gripped at opposite sides by grippers, the grippers are disengaged from the strip and moved outwardly clear of the strip after one wrap has been completed and the strip has lapped itself for gripping itself to the work, and wherein the last wrap is held spaced away from the underlying portion of the strip for regripping of the strip, which is then cut to provide a finishing end and a new leading end of strip, the finishing end being secured to the underlying portion of the strip by being pressed against it for clinging thereto.

Abstract: A wrapping apparatus for wrapping a product in a plastic film includes a conveyor system for moving the product, a wrapping assembly for spirally wrapping a continuous sheet of the film about the product and the conveyor system, and a cutting assembly for forming in the wrapped film a series of perforations defining a line of tearing weakness. The conveyor system includes a pair of spaced apart conveyors which cooperatively move a product through the wrapping assembly. The cutting assembly includes a cutting element which selectively engages the film at a location between the spaced apart conveyors to form the series of perforations.

Abstract: A bale wrapping apparatus having an infeed conveyor, a wrapping mechanism and an outfeed conveyor synchronized to convey bales through the apparatus while continuously wrapping a bale in the wrapping mechanism and forming a continuous protective cocoon around a row of bales. The wrapping mechanism includes a rotating cage and a pair of film dispensers that cooperatively wrap layers of film in successively overlapping helically wound paths around the bale. The apparatus is self-motivated when wrapping so as to discharge a continuous row of wrapped bales.

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 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: In a process and apparatus for seaming and cutting off a wrapping film wrapped about a product, a wrapping film holder moves the wrapping film against the film already wrapped about the product. Then, hot air from within the film holder is blown against the wrapping film for seaming and cutting off the film.

Abstract: An in-line strapping system which is particularly adaptable for strapping a compressible stack of sheet material includes a stack feeding mechanism which captures and holds the stack with its vertical side faces squared through the strapping cycle. A pair of vertically disposed compression belts captures the stack fed from an upstream squaring mechanism and feeds the stack into a strapping station to partially encircle the stack with a strap disposed in the path of movement. Only one lateral side of the stack is captured between the compression belt such that the stack is held in cantilevered fashion in the strapping station with the opposite lateral side unsupported. A rotary strap arm supports the partially wrapped strap and carries it around the unsupported rear portion of the stack to a sealing position overlapping the free end of the strap beneath the stack.

Abstract: A rotary stretch wrapping apparatus for wrapping a product in a plastic film includes a base frame, a rotary support structure, a roll of film mounted to the support structure, a film dispensing mechanism, a prestretching device, and a conveyor system for passing the product through the support structure. The conveyor system includes a pair of horizontally adjacent endless conveyors having lugs adapted to prevent the lugs traveling the return path from hindering the product or the plastic wrap.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method of wrapping a binding tape about a bundle of wires in an automated environment. A tape handling system is provided that de-reels and stores slack tape prior to performing the tape wrap operation. This slack type is then provided to the tape wrapping mechanism at a controlled tension to avoid stretching or breaking the tape.

Abstract: A film web is dispensed from a film web dispenser and wrapped around a bundle by moving the bundle into an applicator mandrel, revolving the film web dispenser relative to the applicator mandrel, dispensing the film web from the film web dispenser on to the applicator mandrel at a constant supply speed. The film web, wrapped around the applicator mandrel, is transported beyond the downstream end of the applicator mandrel, the bundle is moved beyond the downstream end of the applicator mandrel and the film web is applied from the applicator mandrel onto the bundle so as provide a containment force in the film web after it is applied onto the bundle. A dual stage wrapping system is used in such a manner that each orbiting dispenser is restrained to dispense the film web at a constant supply speed less than the lowest film demand speed at the applicator mandrel and independent of the tension on the film web between the film web dispenser and the applicator mandrel.

Abstract: A machine for band wrapping articles characterized in that it comprises a rotatable support for a supply of wrapping material which preferably is a hydrophobic film of resiliently stretchable plastics material, an adjustable support for the article to be wrapped, the adjustable support comprising two or more support members movable relative to each other, means enabling the wrapping material to be wrapped round both the support members and the article and the means enabling the material during its travel from the supply to the article (i) to be maintained under tension and (ii) to be reciprocated at right angles to the direction of travel of the material during the wrapping operation the support members being adapted to be removed from between the wrapping material and the article. Preferred members are smooth flat plates or blades the surface of which has been treated with an anti-friction agent, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A horizontal annular frame is provided for support immediately adjacent, but outwardly of, one side of a land vehicle with the frame mounted from a support adjustably vertically shiftable relative to the land vehicle. The frame is selectively openable to define a horizontal passageway thereinto to enable the frame to be horizontally advanced into position about a tree trunk below the branches thereof and the frame is closable after disposition about a tree trunk. When the frame is closed, it defines a circular track upon which a mount for a string canister is guidingly supported for powered movement about the track and inner peripheral portions of the frame include circumferentially spaced horizontal rollers for engaging and upwardly deflecting the limbs of a tree as the frame is elevated about the tree and the string canister is powered about the frame for spirally baling the tree limbs in their upwardly deflected positions.

Abstract: In a pallet wrapping apparatus for wrapping pallet loads or the like with a membrane comprising; a support beam adapted for generally horizontal securement to a vertical structure above the pallet load, an arm one end of which is rotatably connected to the beam in the region remote from the structure, dispensing structure depending from the other end of the arm for dispensing the membrane, and a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the arm about the load and dispense the membrane from the dispensing structure so as to wrap the membrane about the pallet load.

Abstract: This is a stretch bundler for use in bundling a variety of loads. A method and apparatus description defines this invention by the use of the novel film gripper mechanism used. The gripper mechanism stretches the width of a film while holding its leading edge. It then releases the film and continues the boundling operation by rotating a film dispenser thereabout and dispensing the film around the load.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dispensing a web of material including; at least one roller adapted to engage said web; structure for rotationally driving said roller when said web is drawn from said roller at a preselected force; planetary gear assembly associated with said driving structure for varying the rate of rotationally driving said roller in response to variation in said force drawing said web from said roller so as to maintain said drawing force at said preselected level.

Abstract: Continuously transported groups (21) of articles (20), in particular packages, are wrapped by means of wrapping with a continuous film web 23 (stretch film) and held together thereby. The article groups (21) are conveyed by an inward conveyor (31) to a winding station (25) having a winding unit (26), and after being wrapped with their wrapping (24) are transported away by an outward conveyor (32). In the region of the winding station (25) the article groups (21) are held, conveyed and in particular fixed in their relative position by a support member (33) which consists of at least one horizontal or vertical support wall. The support wall or support walls are arranged in the region between the articles (20) of one article group (21), in other words in the region of mutually facing surfaces of the articles. As a result, the film web 23 is directly wound around the articles.

Abstract: Stretch wrapping apparatus that uses two rollers 17,18 rotating at different speeds to stretch a web or wrapping material has problems of slippage when applied to wrapping grass. These are ameliorated by forming the roller surfaces with projections 32, e.g. by applying a mesh or (better) forming axial corrugations. The surfaces are preferably of metal, particularly aluminum.

Abstract: An overhead stretched film wrapping apparatus, wherein the carriage carrying the film dispenser is adjustable upwardly or downwardly during the overhead wrapping; pre-stretched film dispensing devices and gantry mounted variations are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bundling machine comprising a bundling material supply roll moving along a circular path and a gripping device for engaging and cutting the bundling material, such gripping device having two beams able to be actuated to clamp and cut the bundling material, and of which one beam is able to be swung in relation to the other beam, such beams being guided by a carrier for performing a movement into and out of the bundling plane and a carriage is able to be moved in direction normal to the direction of motion of the carrier, one such beam being pivotally mounted on the carriage.

Abstract: A film web is dispensed from a film web dispenser and wrapped around a bundle by moving the bundle into an applicator mandrel, revolving the film web dispenser relative to the applicator mandrel, dispensing the film web from the film web dispenser on to the applicator mandrel at a constant supply speed. The film web, wrapped around the applicator mandrel, is transported beyond the downstream end of the applicator mandrel, the bundle is moved beyond the downstream end of the applicator mandrel and the film web is applied from the applicator mandrel onto the bundle so as provide a containment force in the film web after it is applied onto the bundle. A dual stage wrapping system is used in such a manner that each orbinting dispenser is restrained to dispense the film web at a constant supply speed less than the lowest film demand speed at the applicator mandrel and independent of the tension on the film web between the film web dispenser and the applicator mandrel.

Abstract: A system for packaging a number of substantially cylindrical packages of generally elastic insulation material. The packages have open ends but are surrounded by a substantially airtight foil layer. The packages are placed close to one another and their ends are temporarily, essentially airtightly closed. The packages are pressed closely against each other by holders. The packages are then connected to a vacuum through a perforated plate to reduce their volume. The reduced volume packages are then wrapped within a tight foil enclosure after the holders are removed but before the vacuum is disconnected. The system not only reduces the volume of the individual packages but also eliminates interspaces therebetween.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stretch bundler having a novel film-holding device. The bundler has a rotable ring that holds the film in a spool and as it rotates it wraps the film around the object to be wrapped or bundled. The film is held at the beginning of the process by a device that firmly holds the sides of the film and stretches these sides outwardly. The subsequent wraps of film are thereby free of any obstructions.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a wrapping apparatus having a frame, a reciprocally driven carriage moveably mounted on the frame, the carriage being adapted to hold a rotatable roll of stretchable film material and a film width varying mechanism. A driven rotatable turntable adapted to support a load is positioned adjacent to the frame, and the leading edge of the film material is held adjacent the load. A brake is connected to the film roll to restrict movement of the web of material from the roll and the film width varying mechanism is mounted in the material path so that the film web travels through a pivotable "C" shaped assembly of the film width varying mechanism to collapse the film web width so that the web edges are formed into rope configurations connected by a membrane of film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stretching means for braking a web of plastic sheet which is pulled off a reel. The stretching means comprises an arm (4) which is mounted to be slewable about an axis (5) extending in parallel with the axis (3) of said plastic sheet reel, a first roller (6) which is pivotally mounted on arm (4) and is intended to be made to rest against reel (2). Furthermore, the stretching means comprises a second roller (7) which is pivotally mounted on arm (4) to receive a loop of plastic sheet web (12) which is pulled off said reel (2) to cause said second roller (7) to be pulled towards said reel (2), and a drive connection (8) between said two rollers (6,7) causing the plastic sheet web to be stretched in zone (13) between the plastic sheet reel and the looped roller (7) when said web is pulled off the reel.

Abstract: A generally O-shaped track extends through the central axial opening of a cylindrical object along the ends of a cylindrical object and along its outer cylindrical surface. A trolley moves along the track and carries a roll of strip wrapping material. As the trolley travels along the track and the strip material is paid off the roll, it is wrapped around the interior surface of the central opening, the ends of the cylindrical object, and its outer cylindrical surface as the cylindrical object itself is rotated about its axis. This produces successive, overlapping laps of strip material such that the entire cylindrical object is covered. Means are provided for maintaining the tension of strip material substantially constant as the trolley travels around the track.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted for counting the number of and half-wrapping banknotes and adapted to be capable of discriminating the banknotes of different nominal values, is disclosed. The apparatus is so constructed that a sensing or discriminating unit is provided in the transport route for the banknotes extracted by the separating drum for sensing or dicriminating the nominal values, authenticity and transport state of the notes, the banknotes after passing through the sensing and discriminating unit are transported by a changeover shutter plate in occasionally selected one of two preset directions, in such a manner that reject notes are accommodated in the reject note stacker and only the desired notes are accommodated in the stack unit for subsequent half-wrapping.

Abstract: A bale wrapping machine comprises a wheeled base frame (1, 2) having a bale-receiving cradle (3) followed by a bale-wrapping device and a roller bed (8) sloping down to ground level. The cradle (3) comprises a support of rollers (4) along which a bale can be translated into the bale-wrapping device and a hydraulic ram device (5, 6) for translating the bale over the rollers (4). The bale-wrapping device is located at a gap between the beds of rollers (4 and 8) and comprises a hoop arrangement through which bales can be translated by the device (5, 6). The hoop arrangement includes an inner fixed hoop, an outer rotary hoop (10) rotatable coaxially with the fixed hoop, a reel (12) for plastics strip carried by the hoop (10) and drive means for the hoop (10).

Abstract: A clamp for clamping a web during stretch wrapping includes a first longitudinally extending clamp element for engaging the web, a second longitudinally extending clamp element extendable in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first clamp element for clamping the web between the second clamp element and the first clamp element as the second clamp element is longitudinally extended in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first clamp element.

Abstract: A device for wrapping a load with a web includes a web dispenser, a frame for supporting and carrying the web dispenser in the path around the load including a first track extending along substantially less than the full angular extent of the path, and a second track extending along substantially less than the full angular extent of the path and complementary to the first track for engaging and guiding the first track means along the path.

Abstract: A disposable elongated material engaging member, formed from reasonably stiff and yet deformable material, is placed adjacent one side of units on a pallet at a wrapping station with the material engaging member having protruding portions oriented to extend in a direction away from the surface of the units for engagement with the netting material as the netting material is wrapped around the units. A forming and feeder mechanism, receiving a continuous supply of the reasonably stiff material, forms the material engaging member into the desired configuration and shape, and then dispenses the thus formed member into the wrapping station where the formed member is severed from the continuous supply by the forming and feeder mechanism after the formed material at the wrapping station has been contacted by a plurality of wrapped layers of the netting material.

Abstract: A mandrel for use in winding a web around an article, the mandrel including a support for a roll of the web, a handle rotatably attached at each end of the support and a brake which retards rotation of the support relative to at least one handle by an amount depending on the relative rotation between the handle and support which has already taken place.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping a package in a stretchable and then cold- and/or hot-contractible film comprises two identical successive stations located along a line for feeding the packages and comprising each a rotatable support member positioned about the feeding line, on which there is rotatably mounted at least a coil of film which unwinds and envelops the advancing packages, and comprising also a cutting device, positioned downstream the support member to cut the film between two adjacent packages; also provided between the two stations and means for rotating the packages through 90.degree. so that the packages which come out from the machine will have two sheets of film wound about each package and both of them on two opposite faces thereof, but positioned orthogonally to one another, and a single sheet of film wound on the remaining sides of the package.

Abstract: A method of producing film-wrapped packages or packaged units, wherein a package or packaged unit is wrapped in a film hose formed by helical wrapping of the film (web) (30). In front of the wrapping front advancing relative to the package, a tear-up thread is also enclosed by the forming film hose. A wakening (tear-up) line is formed in the film hose in the vicinity and along the length of the tear-up thread. Here, an abutment for a spiked roller (10) is formed by a stationary tongue (12) above a conveyor belt (6) and below the film (web) (30).

Abstract: A stretch wrapper wraps a load with a web dispensed from a web dispenser and includes a frame for supporting and revolving the web dispenser around the load and about a vertical axis. A support is attached to the upper portion of the frame to support the frame from above and guide the frame along a path around the load. A motor-driven drive wheel is attached the lower portion of the frame for engaging a floor, supporting the frame from below, and driving the frame on the floor along the path around the load.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and process for high speed continuous film web wrapping of uniform loads, in which a first wrap is applied in a first direction transverse to the path of the moving load and a second wrap is applied in a second direction opposite the first direction. This dual wrap nullifies the disabling effects of helical wrap bias when a single wrap is applied at high speed to a moving load, and produces a longitudinal containment force after film web recovery over time on leading and trailing ends of the load. In the apparatus two wrapping stations are provided together with a wrapping conveyor assembly which carries the film web wrapped around the load and conveyor through the two stations.

Abstract: A stretch foil wrapping arrangement for wrapping objects. The objects are conveyed to a transition bridge around which a stretch foil tube is wrapped. As the objects are conveyed through the transition bridge they pass inside of the tube which is out after the object and tube portion in which it is wrapped leave the transition bridge. The transition bridge includes upper and lower conveyors each having an outer actively driven belt and an inner passively driven roller plane in contact with the objects.

Abstract: A stretch film wrapping device for rotatably supporting a roll of film and dispensing the film at a selected tension includes a base member, a hub member having a device for mounting a roll of stretchable film, a shaft, a means for joining the shaft to the base and hub members to permit rotation of the hub member with respect to the base member. The means joining the shaft to the base and hub members includes a friction device for resisting rotation of the hub member with respect to the base member. The friction device includes a pair of friction surfaces mounted on the shaft. One of the friction surfaces is non-rotatably mounted to the base member and the other is non-rotatably mounted to the hub member. The friction device retards rotation of the hub member with respect to the base member. Each of the friction surfaces has an annular area extending radially outward from the shaft for frictional contact between the friction surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping one or more elongated articles, such as rolls of fabric, into a multi-sided package which is comprised of an infeed conveyor which conveys articles to be wrapped to a wrapping station and an outfeed conveyor which conveys the resultant multi-sided package away from the wrapping station. The infeed and outfeed conveyors each have a pair of intersecting sets of driven rollers which form a "V" shaped cross-section. The angle subtended by each of the intersecting sets of rollers and the orientation of the plane which bisects the angle may be varied.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping a load of goods on a pallet with parallel or crosswise running straps has an upper carriage displaceable in elevation. A vertical shaft is secured on the upper carriage and carries a wrapping arm with a horizontal part and a downwardly-projecting perpendicular part, radially spaced from the shaft. A spool of banding material in the form of a thin flat strip is provided above the shaft or on the horizontal part of the wrapping arm, and guiding pulleys at a junction betwen the horizontal and vertical parts, and at a lower discharge end of the vertical part, guide the flat strip to the area of a lower carriage, which is also displacement in elevation and supports a unit adapted to hold, cut and affix the flat strip when wrapped.

Abstract: A rotatable film wrapping apparatus for wrapping a load on a conveyor with an overwrap of stretched plastic film web, having a ring-mounted film web pre-stretch mechanism which stretches and dispenses film at a varying speed controlled independently of variations in film tension and speed between the pre-stretch mechanism and the load, and a supply speed control mechanism which varies the supply speed of web from the pre-stretch mechanism as the ring rotates. The supply speed control mechanism is configured as a predetermined model of the load to minimize variation in film elongation and containment as successive load edges intercept film web during wrapping, thereby locking in these characteristics at predetermined levels for film web wrapped across the load side which ends at the edge.

Abstract: A bundling device for bundling elongate articles such as firewood with plastic film including a wood support for fixedly supporting the articles to be bundled, a film support to support a roll of the plastic film to be wrapped around the articles and a drive for rotating the film support around the articles on the wood support to wrap the film around the wood carried on the wood support. The film support includes a brake to maintain tension in the film as it is being wrapped around the articles and which increases the tension in the film when it is desired to break the film after the articles have been wrapped.

Abstract: For continuously wrapping a palletized load, a self-propelling apparatus is provided, said apparatus being fitted with means for electric traction fed by batteries, said machine moving at a distance around the outer perimeter of a load.The apparatus and with it the reel, from which the film unwinds to wrap the load, follows a path which alters in correspondence with the outer perimeter of the load to be wrapped. The outer perimeter of the load is detected by devices fitted inside a container for evaluating the preselected distance between the path to be followed by the apparatus and said outer perimeter of the load. Conveniently, said means are based on the emission of ultrasonic waves and receiving of their respective echos.