US20100313525A1 - Wrapping apparatus having top loading and threading dispenser - Google Patents
Wrapping apparatus having top loading and threading dispenser Download PDFInfo
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- US20100313525A1 US20100313525A1 US12/816,136 US81613610A US2010313525A1 US 20100313525 A1 US20100313525 A1 US 20100313525A1 US 81613610 A US81613610 A US 81613610A US 2010313525 A1 US2010313525 A1 US 2010313525A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- packaging material
- dispensing assembly
- dispenser
- material dispensing
- load
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/04—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material the articles being rotated
- B65B11/045—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material the articles being rotated by rotating platforms supporting the articles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/006—Helical strip wrapping combined with roping
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/02—Wrapping articles or quantities of material, without changing their position during the wrapping operation, e.g. in moulds with hinged folders
- B65B11/025—Wrapping articles or quantities of material, without changing their position during the wrapping operation, e.g. in moulds with hinged folders by webs revolving around stationary articles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
- B65B41/12—Feeding webs from rolls
- B65B41/16—Feeding webs from rolls by rollers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B2011/002—Prestretching mechanism in wrapping machines
Abstract
A packaging material dispenser may include a roll carriage having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a base plate separating the upper portion from the lower portion. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on an upper surface of the base plate and defining at least a portion of a packaging material path. A first portion of the packaging material path may extend behind the packaging material dispensing assembly. The upper portion of the roll carriage may include an opening defining a packaging material path access area positioned to provide access to a top of the packaging material path. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism extending below the base plate.
Description
- This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/213,489, filed Jun. 15, 2009, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- The present disclosure relates to a wrapping apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material, and more particularly, to a wrapping apparatus having a top loading and threading packaging material dispenser.
- Various packaging techniques have been used to build a load of unit products and subsequently wrap them for transportation, storage, containment and stabilization, protection, and waterproofing. Products may be stacked as a load on a pallet to simplify handling of the products. The load is commonly wrapped with packaging material. One system uses a stretch wrapping machin to stretch, dispense, and wrap stretch packaging material around a load. Stretch wrapping can be performed as an inline, automated packaging technique that dispenses and wraps packaging material in a stretch condition around a load to cover and contain the load. Stretch wrapping, whether accomplished by a turntable, rotating arm, or vertical rotating ring, typically covers the four vertical sides of the load with a stretchable packaging material, such as polyethylene packaging material. In each of these arrangements, relative rotation is provided between the load and the packaging material dispenser to wrap packaging material about the sides of the load.
- Conventional stretch wrapping apparatuses employ a packaging material dispenser having two closely spaced rollers to stretch between them a web of thermoplastic stretch packaging material. Such a stretch wrapping apparatus performs admirably in accomplishing its intended goal of wrapping a load with a stretched web of packaging material. However, the procedure of loading and threading the packaging material through the series of rollers in the packaging material dispenser prior to operation of the stretch wrapping apparatus has been found to be time consuming and difficult.
- It is preferable that a stretch wrapping apparatus with pre-stretch rollers have the following features. The upstream and downstream pre-stretch rollers should be closely spaced during operation to prevent neckdown of the packaging material as it is being substantially stretched in the dispensing direction. Since the forces exerted on a web of packaging material between the pre-stretch rollers is very significant, for example in the order of 50 pounds of force, the frame and the mounting of the pre-stretch rollers should be required to be very sturdy. The surface of the pre-stretch rollers should be covered by the packaging material over a sufficient extent such that the packaging material does not slip on the pre-stretch rollers. The rotational inertia of the pre-stretch rollers should not be so high as to require excessively high power to vary their velocity. To accommodate these requirements, a series of idle rollers are used to support the packaging material proximate to the pre-stretch rollers. As a result, the packaging material follows a tortuous path around the closely-spaced pre-stretch and idle rollers. The downstream pre-stretch roller has a faster surface speed than the upstream pre-stretch roller. This stretches the packaging material between the upstream and downstream pre-stretch rollers in the dispensing direction.
- Before operating a stretch wrapping apparatus having pre-stretch rollers, it is necessary to load and thread the packaging material along the tortuous path. The increased numbers of rollers in the packaging material dispenser for pre-stretch, and the close spacing of such rollers with their effective interconnection for pre-stretching the packaging material prior to dispensing the packaging material on the load, makes it very difficult to thread the packaging material through the pre-stretch portion of the packaging material dispenser. This loading and threading is difficult and time consuming since, due to the close spacing of the rollers, an operator cannot manually carry the packaging material between the rollers. Rather, the operator must feed the packaging material from one side of each roller nip with one hand and pull the packaging material from the other side of the roller nip with the other hand. This procedure is rendered considerably more difficult because of the large widths of the webs of packaging material that are used commercially. Such webs generally have a width in the range of 10 to 30 inches. Other problems in loading and threading resulted from the fact that the operator is required to place his fingers proximate to the nip of the rollers and blindly feed the packaging material from the rear of the frame which carried the rollers, which makes the threading operation difficult and more time consuming.
- The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above, as well as other problems associated with loading and threading a packaging material dispensers.
- In accordance with this disclosure, embodiments of a packaging material dispenser including one or more packaging material dispensing rollers for dispensing packaging material is provided. Embodiments of an apparatus for wrapping a load including a packaging material dispenser having one or more dispensing rollers for dispensing packaging material also are provided.
- In accordance with one aspect of this disclosure, a packaging material dispenser may include a roll carriage having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a base plate separating the upper portion from the lower portion. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on an upper surface of the base plate and defining at least a portion of a packaging material path. A first portion of the packaging material path may extend behind the packaging material dispensing assembly. The upper portion of the roll carriage may include an opening defining a packaging material path access area positioned to provide access to a top of the packaging material path. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism extending below the base plate.
- In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a packaging material dispenser may include a roll carriage having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a base plate separating the upper portion from the lower portion. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on an upper surface of the base plate and defining at least a portion of a packaging material path. An upstream portion of the packaging material path may extend behind the packaging material dispensing assembly, and a downstream portion of the packaging material path may extend in front of the packaging material dispensing assembly. At least one of the upstream portion and the downstream portion may be accessible via one or more passageways at the top of the roll carriage. The packaging material dispenser may also include a drive assembly for the packaging material dispensing assembly, the drive assembly extending below the base plate.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure a packaging material dispenser may include a roll carriage having a base plate on which a packaging material dispensing assembly is mounted. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material path for packaging material being dispensed by the packaging material dispensing assembly. The packaging material path may include a substantially U-shaped configuration including a first leg through which packaging material is drawn in a first direction. The packaging material path may also include a second leg through which packaging material is drawn in a second direction different than the first direction, and a connecting portion connecting the first leg to the second leg. At least one of the first leg and the second leg may be accessible via one or more passageways at a top of the roll carriage. The packaging material dispenser may also include a drive assembly for the packaging material dispensing assembly, the drive assembly extending below the base plate.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure, a wrapping apparatus for wrapping a load may include a packaging material dispenser. The packaging material dispenser may include a roll carriage having a base plate on which a packaging material dispensing assembly may be mounted. The packaging material dispenser may also include a packaging material path for packaging material being dispensed by the packaging material dispensing assembly. The packaging material path may have a substantially U-shaped configuration. The wrapping apparatus may also include a column on which the packaging material dispenser is movably mounted. The base plate may be cantilevered to provide a gap between the packaging material dispensing assembly and a surface of the column, providing access to at least a portion of the packaging material path. The wrapping apparatus may also include means for providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure, a wrapping apparatus for wrapping a load may include a packaging material dispenser. The packaging material dispenser may include a packaging material dispensing assembly. The packaging material dispenser may also include a roll carriage having a base plate on which the packaging material dispensing assembly is mounted, and a packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism mounted below the base plate. The wrapping apparatus may also include a load support surface configured to support the load during wrapping. The load support surface may include an opening configured to allow the at least a portion of the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism to pass below the load support surface.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure, a packaging material dispenser may include a packaging material dispensing assembly, and a roll carriage having a base plate on which the packaging material dispensing assembly is mounted. The packaging material dispenser may also include a cover assembly including a door with a hinged end rotatably coupled to the roll carriage and a free end opposite the hinged end. The free end may be configured to selectively engage a top portion of the roll carriage. The door may be configured to move between at least one open position and a closed position to position packaging material against the packaging material dispensing assembly.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure, a method for wrapping a load may include inserting packaging material downward into a first portion of a packaging material path. The first portion may extend behind one or more packaging material dispensing rollers of a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on a base plate. The method may also include providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load. The method may also include driving the packaging material dispensing assembly to dispense packaging material for wrapping the load using a drive assembly mounted below the base plate.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure, a method for wrapping a load may include inserting packaging material downward into a packaging material path of a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on a base plate of a roll carriage. Inserting may include inserting a first portion of packaging material downward into an upstream portion of the packaging material path behind the packaging material dispensing assembly. Inserting may also include inserting a second portion of packaging material downward into a downstream portion of the packaging material path in front of the packaging material dispensing assembly. The method may also include providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load. The method may also include driving the packaging material dispensing assembly to dispense packaging material for wrapping the load using a drive assembly mounted below the base plate.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure, a method for wrapping a load may include inserting packaging material downward into a substantially U-shaped packaging material path of a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on a base plate of a roll carriage. Inserting may include inserting a first portion of packaging material downward into a first leg of the packaging material path, through which packaging material is drawn in a first direction. Inserting may also include inserting a second portion of packaging material downward into a second leg of the packaging material path, through which packaging material is drawn in a second direction different than the first direction. The method may also include providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load. The method may also include driving the packaging material dispensing assembly to dispense packaging material for wrapping the load using a drive assembly mounted below the base plate.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure, a method for wrapping a load may include dispensing packaging material with a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on a base plate of a roll carriage. The method may also include driving the packaging material dispensing assembly to dispense packaging material with a packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism mounted below the base plate. The method may also include providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load, and moving at least a portion of the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism into an opening in a load support surface supporting the load such that the at least a portion of the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism moves below the load support surface.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of this disclosure, a method for wrapping a load may include opening a door having a hinged bottom end rotatably coupled to a base plate to provide an opening between the door and a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on the base plate. The method may also include inserting a length of packaging material into the opening. The method may also include moving the door to close the opening and thereby position the length of packaging material on the packaging material dispensing assembly. The method may also include dispensing packaging material with the packaging material dispensing assembly, and providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load.
- Additional objects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the embodiments. The objects and advantages of the embodiments may be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the features claimed.
- The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
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FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wrapping apparatus, including a packaging material dispenser, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a portion of the packaging material dispenser ofFIG. 1 , according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 3 shows an isometric view similar to that ofFIG. 2 , with a cover assembly of the packaging material dispenser in an open position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 4 shows a close-up perspective view of a portion of the wrapping apparatus ofFIG. 1 , with the cover assembly of the packaging material dispenser in an open position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 5 shows a close-up perspective view of a portion of the wrapping apparatus ofFIG. 1 , according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 6 shows a close-up perspective view of a hinge assembly of the packaging material dispenser ofFIG. 1 , with the cover assembly in a first open position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 7 shows a close-up perspective view of the hinge assembly of the packaging material dispenser ofFIG. 1 , with the cover assembly in a second open position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 8 shows a close-up perspective view of a bottom portion of the packaging material dispenser ofFIG. 1 , including a drive housing, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 9 shows a close-up perspective view of a bottom portion of the stretch wrapping apparatus ofFIG. 1 , with the drive housing removed, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of portions of the wrapping apparatus ofFIG. 1 , with the cover assembly in an open position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 11 shows a schematic top view of portions of the wrapping apparatus ofFIG. 1 , with the cover assembly in a closed position, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 12 shows a schematic top view of portions of another wrapping apparatus, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 13 shows a schematic top view of portions of yet another wrapping apparatus, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 14 shows a top view of the packaging material dispenser ofFIG. 1 with a cap removed, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 15 shows a bottom view of the packaging material dispenser ofFIG. 1 with the drive housing removed, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. - Reference will now be made to the present exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
- In accordance with the present disclosure, embodiments of a wrapping apparatus are provided, the wrapping apparatus being provided for wrapping a load with packaging material. In an exemplary embodiment, stretch wrap packaging material is used, however, various other packaging materials such as netting, strapping, banding, or tape can be used as well. As used herein, the terms “packaging material,” “packaging material,” “web,” and “packaging material web” are interchangeable.
- As shown in
FIG. 1 , anapparatus 100 may include apackaging material dispenser 102 for dispensingpackaging material 104, and means for providing relative rotation between aload 101 and thepackaging material dispenser 102 so thatpackaging material 104 can be wrapped aroundload 101. The means may include a rotatable turntable assembly, a horizontal rotatable ring assembly, a vertical rotatable ring assembly, or a rotatable arm assembly.Apparatus 100 includes arotatable turntable 188 on which load 101 is supported during the wrapping process.Rotatable turntable 188 may be a low-profile turntable. As used herein and generally understood in the art, a low profile turntable is a rotatable turntable having a load support surface that is less than or equal to 3 inches above a floor surface supporting the turntable.Apparatus 100 may also include acolumn 156, on whichpackaging material dispenser 102 is mounted for vertical travel alongcolumn 156. Whilepackaging material 104 is being dispensed by packagingmaterial dispenser 102, relative rotation betweenpackaging material dispenser 102 andload 101, which may be provided byrotatable turntable 188, may wrappackaging material 104 aroundload 101. Combining that relative rotation with vertical travel ofpackaging material dispenser 102 alongcolumn 156 may provide for wrapping ofload 101 withpackaging material 104 in a spiral-like fashion. - Before wrapping of
load 101 may begin,packaging material 104 must be loaded into and threaded throughpackaging material dispenser 102. Loadingpackaging material dispenser 102 includes placing aroll 118 ofpackaging material 104 onto aroll support 120, as shown, for example, inFIG. 5 .Roll support 120 may be similar to the roll support shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617, filed as application Ser. No. 12/409,407, entitled “WRAPPING APPARATUS HAVING TOP LOADING AND THREADING PACKAGING MATERIAL DISPENSER,” filed Mar. 23, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Adoor 108 that is part of acover assembly 106 ofpackaging material dispenser 102 may be opened, as shown inFIGS. 3 , 4, 6, and 7. An operator may opendoor 108 by pulling on ahandle 173. Pulling onhandle 173 may release alatch assembly 172 by, for example, releasing abolt 171 from acatch 176.Door 108 may rotate about apivot 117. Ahinge assembly 114 may include agroove 192 for guidingdoor 108 from its closed position to first and second open positions.Door 108 may include aprotrusion 113 configured to be received ingroove 192. Asdoor 108 swings open by pivoting aboutpivot 117,protrusion 113 may slide upward along afirst portion 194 ofgroove 192. Whenprotrusion 113 reaches an upper end offirst portion 194,door 108 is in a first open position (FIGS. 3 , 4, and 6), creating aspace 166 betweendoor 108 and a packaging material dispensing assembly, such as aprestretch assembly 122, into whichpackaging material 104 can be loaded. If the operator continues to pullhandle 173,hinge assembly 114 may rotate aboutpivot 119 in a clockwise direction towardcolumn 156, aligningprotrusion 113 with a lower end of asecond portion 196 ofgroove 192. Asdoor 108 swings wider open by pivoting aboutpivot 117,protrusion 113 may slide upward alongsecond portion 196 ofgroove 192. Whenprotrusion 113 reaches an upper end ofsecond portion 196,door 108 is held in a second open position (FIG. 7 ), thus increasing accessibility intospace 166, and allowing greater access to internal components ofpackaging material dispenser 102. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , a portion of leadingportion 190 ofpackaging material 104 may be pulled off ofroll 118, and may be inserted downward into agap 144.Gap 144 may open downward into afirst portion 160 of apackaging material path 159 that extends behindprestretch assembly 122 and in front of at least a portion ofcolumn 156. For example,gap 144 may extend betweenprestretch assembly 122 and a plane formed by a surface ofcolumn 156.First portion 160 ofpackaging material path 159 is easily accessible via the top ofpackaging material dispenser 122.Packaging material 104 may travel in a first direction 125 (FIGS. 10 and 11 ), relative topackaging material dispenser 102, when moving throughfirst portion 160. - With
door 108 opened to either of the first and second open positions, another portion of leadingportion 190 ofpackaging material 104 may be wrapped around a side ofprestretch assembly 122 and inserted in aspace 166 betweenopen door 108 and a front ofprestretch assembly 122. Asdoor 108 is closed (FIGS. 1 , 2, and 11),idle rollers door 108, may presspackaging material 104 against anidle roller 153 and one or more packaging material dispensing rollers. The one or more packaging material dispensing rollers may include anupstream prestretch roller 124 and adownstream prestretch roller 126. The pressing provides traction betweenpackaging material 104 and upstream anddownstream prestretch rollers idle roller 150,idle roller 151,idle roller 152,idle roller 153,upstream prestretch roller 124, anddownstream prestretch roller 126 may form asecond portion 168 ofpackaging material path 159 that may have a serpentine form, (e.g., S-shaped or W-shaped), as shown, for example, inFIG. 11 , and similar to that which can be found in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617.Packaging material 104 may travel in a second direction 127 (FIGS. 10 and 11 ), relative topackaging material dispenser 102, when moving throughsecond portion 168 ofpackaging material path 159. Athird portion 170 ofpackaging material path 159, extending along a side ofprestretch assembly 122, connectsfirst portion 160 andsecond portion 168 ofpackaging material path 159, such thatfirst portion 160,second portion 168, andthird portion 170 ofpackaging material path 159 together form a substantially U-shaped path forpackaging material 104. - An operator may close
door 108 by pushingdoor 108 towardprestretch assembly 122. Ifdoor 108 is in its second open position, the force ondoor 108 may rotatedoor 108 aboutpivot 117, causingprotrusion 113 to travel downward alongsecond portion 196 ofgroove 192.Protrusion 113 may press against a lower edge ofgroove 192, causinghinge assembly 114 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction away fromcolumn 156, bringingprotrusion 113 against a lower end of second portion 196 (and a top end of first portion 194), and into alignment withfirst portion 194 ofgroove 192, thus placingdoor 108 in its first open position. As the operator continues to pushdoor 108 towardprestretch assembly 122,door 108 may continue to rotate aboutpivot 117, andprotrusion 113 may travel downward alongfirst portion 194 ofgroove 192. Eventually, asprotrusion 113 reaches a lower end ofgroove 192,latch assembly 172 may latch ontodoor 108, holdingdoor 108 in its closed position. Astop 115 is provided onhinge assembly 114 to absorb some of the force associated with the closing ofdoor 108. It is also contemplated thatdoor 108 may include awindow 198 allowing an operator to view internal components ofpackaging material dispenser 102 withdoor 108 in its closed position. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , downstream frompackaging material dispenser 102, leadingportion 190 ofpackaging material 104 may be attached to load 101, a location nearload 101, or aclamp 186 onrotatable turntable 188, in preparation for wrapping.Clamp 186 may be similar to the packaging material holder described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,610, filed as application Ser. No. 09/137,119, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRETCH WRAPPING A LOAD,” filed Aug. 20, 1998, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. - As
packaging material 104 is dispensed fromroll 118, it may travel infirst direction 125 alongfirst portion 160 ofpackaging material path 159, reverse direction alongthird portion 170 ofpackaging material path 159, and travel insecond direction 127, relative todispenser 102, alongsecond portion 168 ofpackaging material path 159, before reachingload 101. -
Packaging material dispenser 102 may include aroll carriage 112. Rollcarriage 112 may include atop plate 116, abase plate 110, aroll support 120 mounted onbase plate 110, and avertical support member 164 extending betweentop plate 116 andbase plate 110, as shown inFIGS. 5 , 6-8, 14, and 15. It is also contemplated that at least a portion 111 ofroll carriage 112 having one or more rollers thereon may movably engage a track or frame within a space (not shown) incolumn 156.Top plate 116 andbase plate 110 may rotatably supportupstream prestretch roller 124,downstream prestretch roller 126, andidle roller 153. “Upstream” and “downstream,” as used herein, are intended to define the direction of movement relative to the flow ofpackaging material 104 throughpackaging material dispenser 102. Movement in a direction that is against the flow ofpackaging material 104 is defined as “upstream,” and movement in a direction that is with the flow ofpackaging material 104 is defined as “downstream.” “Upstream” and “downstream,” as used herein, do not (necessarily) describe the positions of the rollers relative to rollsupport 120 forroll 118 ofpackaging material 104.Upstream prestretch roller 124 and/ordownstream prestretch roller 126 may be connected to a power source, such as adrive motor 132 shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 ; however, they do not need to be, andupstream prestretch roller 124 and/ordownstream prestretch roller 126 therefore may be powered or unpowered. - As shown in
FIGS. 10 , 11, and 14,upstream prestretch roller 124 anddownstream prestretch roller 126 may be mounted onshafts shafts base plate 110 ofroll carriage 112, while a second end of each ofshafts top plate 116 ofroll carriage 112. Asprocket 134 is mounted on/attached toshaft 128 ofupstream prestretch roller 124 abovetop plate 116, and similarly, asprocket 136 is mounted on/attached toshaft 130 ofdownstream prestretch roller 126 abovetop plate 116. The sprockets may be connected by a chain, belt, or any othersuitable connection 137, such thatupstream prestretch roller 124 may be rotatably driven by the rotation ofdownstream prestretch roller 126. - As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 15 , asprocket 141 may be mounted on or otherwise attached toshaft 130 ofdownstream prestretch roller 126 belowbase plate 110.Sprocket 141 may be connected to asprocket 142 ondrive motor 132 by adrive belt 145.Drive belt 145 may include, for example, a belt, a chain, a cable, one or more gears, and/or any other suitable connection.Sprocket 141,sprocket 142, and/ordrive belt 145, may be housed in adrive housing 182 belowbase plate 110 ofroll carriage 112, as shown inFIG. 8 . Positioningroll carriage 112 abovedrive housing 182 allowsroll carriage 112 to be used to prevent debris from entering intodrive housing 182 from above. - Drive
housing 182, and the components housed therein, may have a relatively small vertical thickness as compared to conventional drive components. This creates a low-profile drive design, which allowspackaging material dispenser 102 to move through a wide range of vertical positions. Attempting to use conventional drive components, instead of the low-profile drive components, may not be feasible, or may be problematic, for at least a few reasons. - Impacts between bottom-mounted drive components and an object, such as, for example, the ground, a conveyor, or a machine part, may cause damage, resulting in machine downtime. Thus, a clearance must be maintained between the drive components and the object, so that impacts can be avoided. Providing that clearance requires moving the drive components vertically higher relative to a load wrapping surface to provide a clearance distance between the drive components and the object. The packaging material dispensing components on the roll carriage, being positioned above the drive components, must also be moved vertically higher by at least the sum of the clearance distance and the thickness of the drive components. The thicker the drive components, the farther away the packaging material dispensing components are from the load wrapping surface.
- If the packaging material dispensing components are too high relative to the load wrapping surface, they may have difficulty wrapping the bottom surfaces of a load on the load wrapping surface. Even greater difficulties arise if roping assemblies are used to rope up the packaging material before it reaches the load, since roping assemblies may move the packaging material even higher, and thus, farther away from the load wrapping surface. While the use of drive down rollers may help drive the packaging material downward, its capacity to drive down packaging material to a lower height has a limit. When that limit is exceeded, it may not be able to drive the packaging material down any further, or may fail to operate in a desired manner.
- One way to avoid such problems associated with bottom-mounted drive components is by eliminating mechanical drive components, so that packaging material dispensing rollers mounted on the roll carriage are driven by separate motors controlled by a microprocessor unit. Such an arrangement, however, would increase the complexity and cost of a system.
- The overall vertical thickness of the low-profile drive system including “low-profile” drive components, such as
drive housing 182,sprocket 141,sprocket 142, anddrive belt 145, helps avoid the above-described drawbacks. This is because the vertical thicknesses of the low-profile drive components are less than that of conventional components. Thus,packaging material 104 can be dispensed at a height closer to the bottom surfaces ofload 101 than would be possible with conventional components. In addition, offsetting the height ofroll support 120 relative to rollcarriage 112 by, for example, loweringroll support 120 relative to rollcarriage 112, helps to compensate for the vertical thicknesses ofdrive housing 182, the bottom sprocket ofdownstream prestretch roller 126,sprocket 142, anddrive belt 145. The offsetting ofroll support 120 may be similar to that which is shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. Furthermore, providing anopening 146 in asupport surface 148 of wrappingapparatus 100, as shown inFIG. 9 , may allow drive housing 142 (removed inFIG. 9 for clarity) and the components housed therein to move even further downward, further compensating for the vertical thickness of those components. It is contemplated thatsupport surface 148 may include a surface on whichrotatable turntable 188 is rotatably mounted. Additionally or alternatively, in the case wherepackaging material dispenser 102 is mounted on a rotatable arm,support surface 148 may include a conveyor on which a load rests during wrapping. -
Packaging material dispenser 102 may also include a roping and drive downassembly 184. Roping and drive downassembly 184 may include at least one drive downroller assembly 185 and aroping assembly 187 similar to those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617, as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0209324 A1, filed as application Ser. No. 11/709,879, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING A LOAD TO A PALLET WITH A ROPED PACKAGING MATERIAL WEB,” filed Feb. 23, 2007, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. For example, roping and drive downassembly 184 may include one or more components similar to those shown in FIGS. 5-8 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0209324 A1. - As embodied herein and shown in
FIG. 12 , awrapping apparatus 200 is contemplated having apackaging material dispenser 202 for dispensingpackaging material 204.Packaging material dispenser 202 may be similar topackaging material dispenser 102 in some respects, and similar in other respects to the packaging material dispenser shown in FIGS. 1-7 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. - For example,
packaging material dispenser 202 may include aroll carriage 212 including abase plate 210 and atop plate 216.Base plate 210 may support a prestretch assembly 222 including an upstream prestretch roller 224 (mounted for rotation on a shaft 228) and a downstream prestretch roller 226 (mounted for rotation on a shaft 230).Upstream prestretch roller 224 anddownstream prestretch roller 226 may be cantilevered frombase plate 210, and supported bysupport members Packaging material dispenser 202 may also includeidle rollers packaging material 204 along apackaging material path 259. -
Packaging material path 259 has a general U-shape and is illustrated inFIG. 12 .Packaging material 204 may be dispensed from aroll 218 ofpackaging material 204 supported on aroll support 220. To initiate packaging material movement throughpackaging material dispenser 202 inpackaging material path 259,packaging material 204 may be inserted downwardly through agap 244, similar togap 144 ofpackaging material dispenser 102, between prestretch assembly 222 andcolumn 256, such thatpackaging material 204 lies in afirst portion 260 of U-shapedpackaging material path 259 behind prestretch assembly 222, through whichpackaging material 204 will be drawn in afirst direction 225, relative todispenser 202, during wrapping.Packaging material 204 also may be inserted downwardly through one or more passages at the top ofroll carriage 212 such that packaging material lies in asecond portion 268 ofpackaging material path 259 in front of prestretch assembly 222, through whichpackaging material 204 will be drawn in asecond direction 227 relative todispenser 202 during wrapping.Packaging material 204 also may lie in athird portion 270 ofpackaging material path 259 extending betweenfirst portion 260 andsecond portion 268. The one or more passages at the top ofroll carriage 212 may be similar to that which is shown in FIGS. 1-7 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. - It is also contemplated that
packaging material dispenser 202 may include low-profile drive components similar to those that are shown in FIGS. 1-7 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. Means for providing relative rotation betweenpackaging material dispenser 202 and the load may include, for example, a rotatable turntable (not shown). Alternatively,packaging material dispenser 202 may be vertically driven on a rotatable arm (not shown) or a wrapping ring (not shown). Exemplary embodiments of a rotatable turntable, a rotatable arm, and a wrapping ring that may form a part of this disclosure are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. - As embodied herein and shown in
FIG. 13 , astretch wrapping apparatus 300 is contemplated having apackaging material dispenser 302 for dispensingpackaging material 304.Packaging material dispenser 302 may be similar topackaging material dispenser 102 in some respects, and similar in other respects to the packaging material dispenser shown in FIGS. 8-11 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. - For example,
packaging material dispenser 302 may include aroll carriage 312 including abase plate 310 and a top plate 316.Base plate 310 may support aprestretch assembly 322 including an upstream prestretch roller 324 (mounted for rotation on a shaft 328) and a downstream prestretch roller 326 (mounted for rotation on a shaft 330).Upstream prestretch roller 324 anddownstream prestretch roller 326 may be cantilevered frombase plate 310, and supported bysupport members Packaging material dispenser 302 may also includeidle rollers packaging material 304 along apackaging material path 359. -
Packaging material path 359 has a general U-shape and is illustrated inFIG. 13 .Packaging material 304 may be dispensed from aroll 318 ofpackaging material 304 supported on aroll support 320. To initiate packaging material movement throughpackaging material dispenser 302 inpackaging material path 359,packaging material 304 may be inserted downwardly through agap 344, similar togap 144 ofpackaging material dispenser 102, betweenprestretch assembly 322 andcolumn 356, such thatpackaging material 304 lies in afirst portion 360 of U-shapedpackaging material path 259 behindprestretch assembly 322, through whichpackaging material 304 will be drawn in afirst direction 325 relative todispenser 302 during wrapping.Packaging material 304 also may be inserted downwardly through one or more passages at the top ofroll carriage 312 such that packaging material lies in asecond portion 368 ofpackaging material path 359 in front ofprestretch assembly 322, through whichpackaging material 304 will be drawn in a second direction 327 relative todispenser 302 during wrapping.Packaging material 304 also may lie in athird portion 370 ofpackaging material path 359 extending betweenfirst portion 360 andsecond portion 368. The one or more passages at the top of roll carriage may be similar to that which is shown in FIGS. 8-11 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. It is also contemplated thatpackaging material dispenser 302 may include low-profile drive components similar to those that are shown in FIGS. 8-11 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. - Means for providing relative rotation between
packaging material dispenser 302 and the load may include, for example, a rotatable turntable (not shown) similar torotatable turntable 188. Alternatively,packaging material dispenser 302 may be vertically driven on a rotatable arm (not shown) or a wrapping ring (not shown). Exemplary embodiments of a rotatable turntable, a rotatable arm, and a wrapping ring that may form a part of this disclosure are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. - A method for loading and threading
packaging material 104 inpackaging material dispenser 102 will now be described. Withpackaging material 102 in a vertically low position, such as that occupied at the end of a previous wrapping cycle (seeFIG. 1 ), an operator begins loadingpackaging material dispenser 102 by slidingroll 118 ontoroll support 120. The operator then grasps a leading end ofpackaging material 104 fromroll 118. The operator may pull the leading end to produce leadingportion 190. It is also contemplated that the operator may form at least a portion of leadingportion 190 into a rope. The operator inserts a portion of leadingportion 190 downward throughgap 144 intofirst portion 160 ofpackaging material path 159. The operator opensdoor 108 to createspace 166 betweenprestretch assembly 122 anddoor 108. Atthird portion 170 ofpackaging material path 159, the operator wraps a portion of leadingportion 190 aroundupstream prestretch roller 124. Atsecond portion 168 ofpackaging material path 159, the operator inserts a portion of the length of packaging material intospace 166. The operator then attaches the leading end ofpackaging material 104 to load 101, a point nearload 101, or clamp 186. Either before or after attaching the leading end, the operator closesdoor 108 to pin leadingportion 190 againstupstream prestretch roller 124,downstream prestretch roller 126, andidle roller 153, usingidle rollers - With the leading end being clamped or otherwise held, relative rotation may be provided between
load 101 andpackaging material dispenser 102, causingpackaging material 104 to be wrapped aboutload 101.Packaging material dispenser 102 may travel vertically alongcolumn 156 from a bottom portion ofload 101 to a top portion ofload 101, and then back down to the bottom portion, while the relative rotation is being provided, to spirally wrappackaging material 104 aboutload 101. - The method for loading packaging material in
packaging material dispensers packaging material dispenser 102. There are, however, differences between the methods. - With
packaging material dispenser 202, once a portion of the length of packaging material has been inserted downward throughgap 244 intofirst portion 260 ofpackaging material path 259, the operator wraps a portion of the length of packaging material aroundidle roller 250 atthird portion 270 ofpackaging material path 259. Atsecond portion 268 ofpackaging material path 259, the operator inserts a portion of the length of packaging material downward through one or more passageways at the top ofroll carriage 212, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. Then the operator may attach the leading end ofpackaging material 204 to the load to be wrapped, a point near the load, or a clamping device. With the leading end being clamped or otherwise held, relative rotation may be provided between the load being wrapped andpackaging material dispenser 202, causingpackaging material 204 to be wrapped about the load.Packaging material dispenser 202 may travel vertically alongcolumn 256 from a bottom portion of the load to a top portion of the load, and then back down to the bottom portion, while the relative rotation is being provided, to spirally wrappackaging material 204 about the load. - With
packaging material dispenser 302, once a portion of the length of packaging material has been inserted downward throughgap 344 intofirst portion 360 ofpackaging material path 359, the operator will wrap a portion of the length of packaging material aroundidle roller 350 atthird portion 370 ofpackaging material path 359. Atsecond portion 368 ofpackaging material path 359, the operator may insert a portion of the length of packaging material downward through one or more passageways at the top ofroll carriage 312, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0235617. Then the operator may attach the leading end ofpackaging material 304 to the load to be wrapped, a point near the load, or a clamping device. With the leading end being clamped or otherwise held, relative rotation may be provided between the load being wrapped andpackaging material dispenser 302, causingpackaging material 304 to be wrapped about the load.Packaging material dispenser 302 may travel vertically alongcolumn 356 from a bottom portion of the load to a top portion of the load, and then back down to the bottom portion, while the relative rotation is being provided, to spirally wrappackaging material 304 about the load. - Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Claims (40)
1. A packaging material dispenser comprising:
a roll carriage having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a base plate separating the upper portion from the lower portion;
a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on an upper surface of the base plate and defining at least a portion of a packaging material path, a first portion of the packaging material path extending behind the packaging material dispensing assembly;
the upper portion of the roll carriage including an opening defining a packaging material path access area positioned to provide access to a top of the packaging material path for insertion of packaging material into the packaging material path; and
a packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism extending below the base plate.
2. The packaging material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein packaging material in the first portion of the packaging material path extends behind one or more packaging material dispensing rollers of the packaging material dispensing assembly.
3. The packaging material dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the packaging material path includes a second portion extending in front of the one or more packaging material dispensing rollers of the packaging material dispensing assembly.
4. The packaging material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the opening extends between the packaging material dispensing assembly and a column on which the packaging material dispenser is movably mounted.
5. The packaging material dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the base plate is cantilevered.
6. The packaging material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism includes a low profile housing.
7. The packaging material dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism includes a sprocket coupled to a first packaging material dispensing roller of the packaging material dispenser assembly.
8. The packaging material dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism includes a drive belt coupling the sprocket to a packaging material dispensing assembly drive.
9. A packaging material dispenser comprising:
a roll carriage having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a base plate separating the upper portion from the lower portion;
a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on an upper surface of the base plate and defining at least a portion of a packaging material path, an upstream portion of the packaging material path extending behind the packaging material dispensing assembly, and a downstream portion of the packaging material path extending in front of the packaging material dispensing assembly;
at least one of the upstream portion and the downstream portion being accessible for receiving packaging material via one or more passageways at the top of the roll carriage; and
a drive assembly for the packaging material dispensing assembly, the drive assembly extending below the base plate.
10. The packaging material dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the upstream portion extends through a gap along a side of the packaging material dispensing assembly facing a surface of a column to which the packaging material dispenser is movable mounted.
11. The packaging material dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the downstream portion includes a space extending along a side of the packaging material dispensing assembly facing away from the column.
12. The packaging material dispenser of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the downstream portion has a serpentine shape.
13. A packaging material dispenser comprising:
a roll carriage having a base plate on which a packaging material dispensing assembly is mounted;
a packaging material path for packaging material being dispensed by the packaging material dispensing assembly, the packaging material path including a substantially U-shaped configuration including
a first leg through which packaging material is drawn in a first direction,
a second leg through which packaging material is drawn in a second direction different than the first direction, and
a connecting portion connecting the first leg to the second leg,
wherein at least one of the first leg and the second leg is accessible for receiving packaging material via one or more passageways at a top of the roll carriage; and
a drive assembly for the packaging material dispensing assembly, the drive assembly extending below the base plate.
14. The packaging material dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the first direction is upstream.
15. The packaging material dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the second direction is downstream.
16. The packaging material dispenser of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the second leg has a serpentine shape.
17. A wrapping apparatus for wrapping a load, comprising:
a packaging material dispenser including
a roll carriage having a base plate on which a packaging material dispensing assembly is mounted, and
a packaging material path for packaging material being dispensed by the packaging material dispensing assembly, the packaging material path having a substantially U-shaped configuration;
a column on which the packaging material dispenser is movably mounted, wherein the base plate is cantilevered to provide a gap between the packaging material dispensing assembly and a surface of the column, providing access to at least a portion of the packaging material path for insertion of packaging material into the packaging material path; and
means for providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load.
18. The wrapping apparatus of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the gap extends between a top portion of the roll carriage and the surface of the column.
19. A wrapping apparatus for wrapping a load, comprising:
a packaging material dispenser including
a packaging material dispensing assembly;
a roll carriage having a base plate on which the packaging material dispensing assembly is mounted, and
a packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism mounted below the base plate; and
a load support surface configured to support the load during wrapping, wherein the load support surface includes an opening configured to allow the at least a portion of the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism to pass below the load support surface.
20. The wrapping apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the load support surface includes a rotatable turntable.
21. The wrapping apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the load support surface includes a based configured to rotatably support the rotatably turntable.
22. A packaging material dispenser comprising:
a packaging material dispensing assembly;
a roll carriage having a base plate on which the packaging material dispensing assembly is mounted; and
a cover assembly including a door with a hinged end rotatably coupled to the roll carriage and a free end opposite the hinged end, the free end being configured to selectively engage a top portion of the roll carriage, wherein the door is configured to move between at least one open position and a closed position to position packaging material against the packaging material dispensing assembly.
23. The packaging material dispenser of claim 22 , wherein the free end includes a first portion of a latch assembly.
24. The packaging material dispenser of claim 23 , wherein the top portion of the roll carriage includes a second portion of the latch assembly configured to receive the first portion of the latch assembly.
25. The packaging material dispenser of claim 22 , further including at least one idle roller rotatably mounted on the door.
26. The packaging material dispenser of claim 24 , wherein with the door in the closed position, the at least one idle roller is configured to press the packaging material against at least one packaging material dispensing roller of the packaging material dispensing assembly.
27. A method for wrapping a load, comprising:
inserting packaging material downward into a first portion of a packaging material path, the first portion extending behind one or more packaging material dispensing rollers of a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on a base plate;
providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load; and
driving the packaging material dispensing assembly to dispense packaging material for wrapping the load using a drive assembly mounted below the base plate.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein inserting packaging material downward into a first portion includes inserting packaging material behind prestretch rollers of the packaging material dispensing assembly.
29. The method of claim 27 , further including opening a door covering at least a portion of the packaging material dispensing assembly and inserting packaging material into a space between the open door and the one or more packaging material dispensing rollers.
30. The method of claim 29 , further including closing the door to bring one or more idle rollers rotatably mounted on the door into engagement with the packaging material inserted into the space.
31. The method of claim 30 , further including clamping the inserted packaging material between the one or more idle rollers and the one or more packaging material dispensing rollers.
32. A method for wrapping a load, comprising:
inserting packaging material downward into a packaging material path of a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on a base plate of a roll carriage, wherein inserting includes
inserting a first portion of packaging material downward into an upstream portion of the packaging material path behind the packaging material dispensing assembly, and
inserting a second portion of packaging material downward into a downstream portion of the packaging material path in front of the packaging material dispensing assembly;
providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load; and
driving the packaging material dispensing assembly to dispense packaging material for wrapping the load using a drive assembly mounted below the base plate.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein inserting a first portion of packaging material includes inserting the first portion into a gap between the packaging material dispensing assembly and a column on which the roll carriage is movable mounted.
34. The method of claim 32 , wherein inserting a second portion of packaging material includes opening a door covering a side of the packaging material dispensing assembly to create a space, and inserting the second portion into the space.
35. The method of claim 34 , further including closing the door to clamp the second portion of packaging material between one or more idle rollers rotatably mounted on the door and the packaging material dispensing assembly.
36. A method for wrapping a load, comprising:
inserting packaging material downward into a substantially U-shaped packaging material path of a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on a base plate of a roll carriage, wherein inserting includes
inserting a first portion of packaging material downward into a first leg of the packaging material path, through which packaging material is drawn in a first direction, and
inserting a second portion of packaging material downward into a second leg of the packaging material path, through which packaging material is drawn in a second direction different than the first direction;
providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load; and
driving the packaging material dispensing assembly to dispense packaging material for wrapping the load using a drive assembly mounted below the base plate.
37. The method of claim 36 , wherein inserting a first portion of packaging material downward into a first leg includes inserting the first portion into a gap between the packaging material dispensing assembly and a column on which the packaging material dispensing assembly is movably mounted for vertical travel.
38. The method of claim 36 , wherein inserting a second portion of packaging material downward into a second leg includes opening a door covering a side of the packaging material dispensing assembly to create a space between the door and the packaging material dispensing assembly, and inserting the second portion into the space.
39. The method of claim 38 , further including closing the door to clamp the second portion of packaging material between one or more idle rollers rotatably mounted on the door and the packaging material dispensing assembly.
40. A method for wrapping a load, comprising:
dispensing packaging material with a packaging material dispensing assembly mounted on a base plate of a roll carriage;
driving the packaging material dispensing assembly to dispense packaging material with a packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism mounted below the base plate;
providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispensing assembly and the load; and
moving at least a portion of the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism into an opening in a load support surface supporting the load such that the at least a portion of the packaging material dispensing assembly drive mechanism moves below the load support surface.
Priority Applications (1)
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US12/816,136 US20100313525A1 (en) | 2009-06-15 | 2010-06-15 | Wrapping apparatus having top loading and threading dispenser |
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- 2010-06-15 US US12/816,136 patent/US20100313525A1/en not_active Abandoned
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- 2010-06-15 CA CA2765699A patent/CA2765699A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US10384822B2 (en) * | 2014-06-19 | 2019-08-20 | Crawford Packaging Inc. | Pallet wrap machine monitor |
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US10926906B2 (en) | 2014-10-07 | 2021-02-23 | Lantech.Com, Llc | Load stability-based wrapping |
US20180050832A1 (en) * | 2015-02-09 | 2018-02-22 | Signode Industrial Group Llc | Method for wrapping plastic film on a load and wrapping machine |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2010260150A1 (en) | 2012-01-19 |
EP2443041A1 (en) | 2012-04-25 |
CA2765699A1 (en) | 2010-12-23 |
WO2010148015A1 (en) | 2010-12-23 |
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