GB2055345A

GB2055345A - Hand-held device for wrapping

Info

Publication number: GB2055345A
Application number: GB7926222A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PERFARAP Ltd
Current assignee: PERFARAP Ltd
Priority date: 1979-07-27
Filing date: 1979-07-27
Publication date: 1981-03-04
Also published as: GB2055345B

Abstract

A hand-held device for use in wrapping articles such as pallets with stretch cling-film, comprising a U-shaped frame 4 having, at the free end of each of the limbs of the U, a support 9, 10 for the end of a roll of film material. A handle 8 formed on a nut threaded on a strap 6 spanning the U is rotatable for stressing the limbs of the U for movement of one of the limbs towards the other limb to bring the supports 9, 10 towards one another for adjustable braking rotation of a roll of film. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand-held device for wrapping The present invention relates to a hand-held device for use in wrapping articles such as pal lets with the so-called stretch cling-film type of plastics wrapping film.

Hitherto various different types of devices have been proposed for wrapping articles in plastics film, where a supply roll of plastics film is unwound to allow the film to be wrapped onto the surface of an article.

The present invention provides a hand-held wrapping device comprising a U-shaped frame having, at the free end of each ofthe limbs of the U, a support for a respective end of a roll of film material, a handle on the bight portion of the U, and means for stressing the limbs of the U for movement of one of the limbs towards the other limb, thereby bringing the said supports for a roll of film material towards one another.

Advantageously, the U-shaped frame is of tubular construction with one side of the U formed to interfit telescopically within the other side of the U at the said bight portion.

More preferably, a handle may be provided at the location of telescopic interfitting of the two parts of the U of the frame.

Conveniently, the stressing means may comprise a tensioning strap secured between the two limbs of the U, and a screw adjuster may be provided for increasing the tension in the strap to a desired value.

Conveniently, the supports for a roll of film material each comprise circular end plates with cylindrical plug portions which are adapted to fit slidably within, and to locate coaxially on, the respective ends of a core supporting a roll of film material.

Conveniently, rolls of stretch cling-film material are provided on cardboard cores of open-ended hollow cylindrical construction and the plug members would then fit easily within the ends of the core to allow rotation of the core to pay out film as required.

Desirably the tensioning strap may be fixed at one end to one of the limbs of the U, and slidably received near the other end in the other limb of the U, and the tensioning adjuster may comprise a nut rotatably mounted on a threaded end of the strap which projects beyond the said other limb of the U.

More preferably the nut may be provided with a handle, rotation of which adjusts the tension of any desired value.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which the sole Figure shows a side elevational view, with part in section, of one embodiment of hand-held wrapping device in accordance with the present invention.

In the drawing, the hand-held wrapping device 1 comprises a U-shaped frame having a first limb 2, and a second limb 3, joined by a bight portion 4 extending between the limbs 2 and 3. The limb 3, and the associated side 4a of the bight portion is formed of tubular construction having an external diameter which is constant along its length, whereas the other limb 2 and the part of the bight portion 4b associated therewith are formed oftubular construction having an internal diameter which is slightly greater than the external diameter of the portion 3, 4a, and in this way the two parts 2a and 4a of the bight portion slidably interfit, in a telescopic manner, within a handle 5 moulded of plastics material. The handle 5 is secured to the larger diameter part 2a of the bight portion 4.

A tensioning strap 6 between the two limbs 2 and 3 has one end welded at 7 to the limb 2 and the other end slidably received in a transverse clearance hole in the limb 3. If desired, means may be provided, at the telescopically interfitting region, to prevent relative rotation between the bight portions 4a and 45, but it is envisaged that the welding of the tensioning strap 6 to the limb 2 and its sliding fit through limb 3 will impart the desired rigidity to the frame.

The tensioning strap 6, which is of cylindrical form along its entire length has its free end threaded where it projects beyond the limb 3 and its threaded portion is housed within a further moulded plastics handle 8 which also includes a nut (not shown) fixed non-rotatably with respect to the handle so that as the handle 8 is rotated, so also is the nut. Thus, rotation of the handle 8 will impose a tension on the tensioning strap 6 which will tend to urge the limb 3 towards the limb 2, and hence will press the part 4a of the bight portion 4 downwardly (as viewed in the drawing) into the end of the larger diameter part 4b of the bight portion 4.

A resilient washer may be provided between the handle 8 and the limb 3 in order to make the increase in the tension on strap 6 more progressively adjustable in that any slight adjustment of the position of the handle will partly compress the washer and thus only part of the stress will be manifested as increasing tension in the strap 6.

The free end of the limb 3 has a circular end plate 9 welded thereto, and an upstanding plug portion 10, of hollow cylindrical form, which is located coaxially with the plateS. A similar plate 9 and plug portion 10 are welded in place at the free end of the other limb 2.

The hand-held wrapping device illustrated in the drawing is used as follows:- Initially, the handle 8 is unscrewed to an extent sufficient to allow the limb 3 to be moved far enough away from the limb 2 to permit a cardboard core of a roll of stretch cling film to be passed onto the cylindrical plug portion 10 on limb 2 and also then arranged coaxially around the cylindrical plug portion 10 of limb 3. The limb 3 is then pressed towards the limb 2 until the opposite ends of the cardboard core are in contact with the bearing plate 9 of the respective limbs.

At this stage, the handle 8 is rotated in a sense screwing up the nut (notshown)to contractthe bight portion 4 of the frame and to impose an adjustable compressive stress on the core. The compressive stress is adjusted to such a value that the frictional moment exerted on the core will be sufficient to pro vide the correct paying out tension in the film when film is paid out under tension.

The device is shown in the drawing in the upright configuration and initially the operator will pay out by hand the free end of the web of film material on the roll and attach it to an article to be wrapped, for example a pallet with a stack of goods, such as cans, bottles or boxes, on it.

The operator then passes the wrapping device, again in the erect condition, around the article or stacked pallet thus paying out film under a tension which is sufficient to ensure tight wrapping of the film onto the article until eventually, having passed round the entire article or pallet, the operation starts wrapping the web of film on itself. At this stage the web is severed, for example with a hand knife, and a furtherapplication (for example higher up the stack of goods on the same pallet), is then begun by the same process.

The advantage of the device of the present invention is that once the operator has attached the end of the web of film to the article or pallet to be wrapped, he or she then simply holds the device by the symmetrical handle 5 and, leaning outwardly, uses his or herweightto impose a tension on the film, while walking around the article until one complete wrap of film has been placed on the article or pallet. The handle 8 thus serves simply to steady the device during the initial operation of attaching the end of the film.

Because of the U-shaped frame construction, and in particular the use of a circular cross-section tubular construction, the present device offers a lightweight, but nevertheless robust device which is welt balanced and is convenient to use. Moreover, there is no need for complicated friction brakes on the tension control for paying out of film; it is sufficient to move one limb 3 towards the other limb 2 in order to compress the core and impose the desired tension on it.

A further advantage of this device is that the location of the strap 2 between the two limbs of the frame provides a further hand-hold, if required.

A washer 11 on the tensioning strap limits the amount of tension which can be imposed on the strap 6.

Claims

1. A hand-held wrapping device comprising a U-shaped frame having, at the free end of each of the limbs of the U, a support for a respective end of a roll of film material, a handle on the bight portion of the U, and means for stressing the limbs of the U for movement of one of the limbs towards the other limb, thereby bringing the said supports fora roll of film material towards one another.

2. A wrapping device according to Claim 1, wherein the U-shaped frame is of tubular construction with one side of the U formed to interfit tele scopicallywithin the other side of the U at the said bight portion.

3. Awrapping device according to Claim 2, including a handle at the location of telescopic interfitting of the two parts of the U of the frame.

4. A wrapping device according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the stressing means comprise a tensioning strap secured between the two limbs of the U.

5. Awrapping device according to Claim4, and including a screw adjuster for increasing the tension in the strap to a desired value.

6. Awrapping device according to Claim 4 ores, wherein thetensioning strap is fixed at one end to one of the limbs of the U, and is slidably received near the other end in the other limb of the U.

7. A wrapping device according to Claims 5 and 6, wherein said screw adjuster comprises a nut rotatably mounted on a threaded end of the strap which projects beyond the said other limb of the U.

8. A wrapping device according to Claim 7, wherein said nut includes a handle which is rotatable to adjust the tension of any desired value.

9. Awrapping device according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the supports for a roll of film material each comprise circular end plates with plug portions which are adapted to fit slidably within, and to locate coaxially on, the respective ends of a core supporting a roll of film material.

10. A wrapping device according to Claim 9, wherein said plug portions are cylindrical.

11. A hand-held wrapping device constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.