JPS61178809A - Packer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to packaging, and has particular but non-limiting application to stretch packaging, i.e., wrapping materials by surrounding them with a film of elastic thermoplastic material. In traditional stretch packaging, a film is wrapped around an item and simultaneously held in a stretched state to create a taut envelope for the item that exhibits resilience, high strength, and, in most cases, good appearance. Form. Such films are called stretch films.

Stretch wrapping methods and equipment are currently well known and are applied to various items or collections of items on pallets, trolleys, and the like.

Stretch-wrapping collections of items on pallets or trolleys presents unique problems that arise primarily from the need to transport the loaded pallets or trolleys to existing stretch-wrapping machines. This problem can be solved by handling a relatively large number of items (
This is particularly the case with relatively large loaded pallets, pallets or trolleys. Conventionally, these pallets or trolleys have not been constructed to be easily moved over the long distances associated with large warehouse facilities.

A solution to this problem by a stretch wrapping method has been proposed, for example, in British Patent No. 1,487,512, in which a roll of packaging stretch film is applied to an article or collection of articles to be wrapped. It is adapted to be fixed and to be wrapped around an item or collection of items.

However, the equipment used for this prior art method of stretch wrapping is highly dependent on the skill of the operator and
In fact, it has been found to be extremely slow due to lack of adequate equipment mobility and requires a considerable amount of free space on the warehouse floor to be able to operate fully. do. Furthermore, because of the difficulty in accurately moving this prior art packaging equipment, the incidence of unsatisfactory packaging has been found to be unacceptably high.

The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a simple stretch wrapping of goods or collections of goods, which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties.

According to its broadest aspect, the invention provides a packaging device comprising a movable support for at least one reel of packaging film, the support rotating the goods or collection of goods to be wrapped. Associated with a movable turntable, which is adapted to be supported, is a device for rotating the turntable in order to produce the film wrapping.

Adoption of the invention makes it possible to avoid unnecessary movements of goods or collections of goods and, moreover, to easily store them at various conveniently spaced locations within a storage and/or distribution area such as a warehouse. make it possible for the company to undertake the packaging.

It is appropriate to provide a traction device for moving the support and turntable combination to the required packaging location.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a device for moving the support/turntable combination is provided on a support, which support is suitably in the form of a steerable trolley of the known type. , it is advantageous to have its own electric or other drive unit. Ideally, the drive unit is powered by a second battery source, and
This second battery source may be mounted on the trolley with its own associated charger.

The trolley of the invention is also adapted to support a drive unit for rotating the turntable when required for packaging. The drive unit of the turntable is advantageously powered by a battery power supply provided on the trolley, so that rotation and traction are provided independently independent of an external power supply. This aspect of the invention allows stretch wrapping equipment to be easily used in relatively remote locations in warehouses where conventional mains power sources are not readily available.

The trolley may be adapted to rotatably support one or a number of rolls depending on the size of the goods or combination of goods to be packaged and is additionally provided with roll storage facilities. It is better.

The roll support may be stationary on the trolley or is adapted for reciprocating axial movement to allow the span of the package to exceed the axial length of the roll.

Suitably the wrapping device is a stretch wrapping device.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawing shows a stretch wrapping machine comprising a trolley, generally designated 2, and a cooperating turntable associated therewith.

In this embodiment of the invention, the turntable is permanently affixed to the trolley, but in other arrangements it may be removably affixed.

The trolley 2 is provided with fixed wheels or small wheels (not shown) and at least one steering wheel 6, the steering wheel being suitably mounted on a pivoted control stick 8 supporting the driving interlock switch 4 and the like. The interlocking conventionally supports the trolley 2 for towing across the floor of the warehouse. In particular, control stick 8 supports an actuator switch effective to provide energy to a trolley drive motor provided in a conventional and well known manner.

In this embodiment of the invention, the trolley drive motor is connected to a steering wheel 6 that is coupled to a steering column.

The trolley drive motor is energized by a connection to a second battery pack 10 (in this embodiment a lead acid battery pack) mounted on the deck of the trolley. Use of such a battery pack with an associated charger 12 provides a self-contained power supply that allows the trolley and turntable to be moved independently from location to location where stretch wrapping is required. The battery pack can also be used to perform other packaging functions, such as reciprocating film rolls.

Mounted on the trolley 2 is a framework holding eight bars 12 for rotatably supporting two rolls 14, 16 of stretch packaging film. The removable upper journal 18 makes it possible to load these rolls on top of the empty rolls and to release the former rolls from the 8 bar, which allows free rotation.

The stretch film from roll 14.16 passes over an idler roller 20 with a micro-finished metal surface mounted on a framework and then over a rubber-coated tensioning roller 22.
The resistance to rotation of this tensioning roller 22 is determined by an adjustable clutch mechanism 24 . The clutch mechanism is therefore effective in controlling the tension of the stretch film that is wrapped around the product or collection of products stacked on the turntable unit 4.

The turntable unit, indicated generally at 4, includes a turntable 26 itself mounted by suitable support devices on a turntable platform (not shown). The turntable plant home surrounding the turntable 26 is suitably fixed to the trolley 2 and provided with suitable wheels in a known manner to enable it to move with the trolley from packaging location to packaging location. The hinged ramp 28 allows goods or collections of goods, mounted on trolleys or wheeled pallets, etc., to be moved from the warehouse floor onto the packaging turntable 26. The hinged ramp 28 can be raised above it, ie vertically, during traction of the stretch wrapping device, in order to reduce the risk of damage from collisions and to reduce the total volume moved.

Suitable guides and stops may be provided both on the ramp 28 and on the turntable 26 to control the movement of the trolley or pallet.

an electric motor 3 fixed to the trolley deck and supplied with energy from a battery pack 10 through a suitable switch;
0 is available to rotate the turntable 26 via a suitable transmission system such as a belt and pulley.

The energy supply switch is adapted in this embodiment to gradually increase the speed of the motor 30 from rest to avoid unnecessary snatching and subsequent stress on the stretch film being unwound from the roll 14.16. ing. Storage box 32 for replacement rolls of packaging film.
34 are provided.

During use of the trench wrapping device, the control stick 8 is lowered to the control position and the interlock switch provided is opened. The drive switch is then energized causing traction to the desired packaging location. At the appropriate location, the drive is disengaged, the hinged ramp is lowered, and the trolley, preloaded with the product or collection of products, is wheeled onto the turntable 26 and guided through the provided guides and end stops. In combination with this, the correct packaging position is prevented.

The leading edge of the stretch film is pulled off the roll 14.16 via an idler roller 20 and the tensioning roller 22 is fixed to the trolley, which is thus rotated on the turntable by supplying energy to the motor. After the turntable 26 has made a predetermined number of revolutions effective to produce the required number of layers of packaging film, the film is cut by a cutting mechanism (not shown) and the trolley is turned through the ramp 28. removed from table 26.

This wrapping sequence can be repeated at the same location or at different locations by moving the stretch wrapping device described above.

The stretch wrapping equipment of the present invention does not require the very expensive duplication of stationary stretch wrapping equipment and does not require unnecessary movement of goods or collections thereof, whether mounted on a trolley pallet or the like. without doing anything,
It will be appreciated that by taking the packaging to the location where it is needed, it overcomes the shortcomings of prior art systems.

The present invention also avoids the disadvantages of the above-mentioned known stretch wrapping devices, which have proven to be clearly unsatisfactory.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a self-contained power supply, it is equally applicable to other arrangements in which it is powered, for example by an elevated gantry crane or by rails on which equipment can be moved. .

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to stretch wrapping, it will be understood that the apparatus of the present invention is equally applicable to wrapping with any sheet material such as PVC1 acetate film and the like.

Although it is envisaged that larger packaging devices will be powered, smaller units may also be moved manually.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is a perspective view of a self-powered stretch wrapping device. 4... Turntable unit, 26... Turntable, 2... Trolley. Procedural amendment (method) 1.1! Showing 1985 patent order No. 22463
No. 3 No. 2, Title of the invention Packaging device 3. Relationship with the person making the amendment Applicant name BOC Limited 4, Agent

Claims (15)

[Claims] (1) a movable support for at least one reel of packaging film, the support being associated with a movable turntable adapted to rotatably support an article or collection of articles to be packaged; , a packaging device incorporating a device for rotating a turntable to produce wrapping with a film. (2) The packaging device according to claim (1), further comprising a traction device for moving the support/turntable combination to a required packaging location. (3) The packaging device according to claim (2), wherein the traction device is provided on the support. (4) A packaging device according to any one of claims (1) to (3), wherein the support is in the form of a steerable trolley. (5) Packaging device according to claim (4), wherein the trolley is equipped with an electric or other traction unit. (6) A packaging device according to claim (5), wherein the trolley is provided with a second battery source for driving the electric traction unit. (7) Packaging device according to claim (6), wherein the trolley is provided with a charger for the second accumulator source. (8) The packaging device according to any one of claims (1) to (7), comprising a drive unit for rotating a turntable. (9) Claims (5) to (8), wherein the turntable drive unit is mounted on the trolley.
Packaging equipment according to any one of paragraphs. (10) The packaging device according to claim (9), wherein the turntable drive unit is powered by a second storage battery source. (11) a second battery source is provided on the trolley;
A packaging device according to claim (10). (12) Any one of claims (8) to (11), wherein the drive unit for the turntable is supplied with energy independently of the traction unit for the combination of support and turntable. The packaging device according to paragraph 1. (13) The packaging device according to any one of claims (1) to (12), wherein the roll support is movable or stationary. (14) A packaging device substantially as described in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings. (15) A packaging apparatus substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.