US3823527A

US3823527A - Apparatus for covering a pallet load with plastic film

Info

Publication number: US3823527A
Application number: US00306007A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Burn
Original assignee: J AND H Co
Current assignee: J AND H Co
Priority date: 1972-11-13
Filing date: 1972-11-13
Publication date: 1974-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-16

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for covering a pallet load with a tubular sheet of wrapping material, such as plastic film, which apparatus includes a frame, a vertically sliding support structure mounted on the frame, a plurality of holding means, such as clamps, for grasping wrapping material, carried by the support structure, each of the holding means being movable between open and closed positions, and operating means for moving the holding means from a closed to an open position, when the holding means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the loaded pallet. In one embodiment, the support structure includes a vertically sliding member having a pair of spaced apart arms secured thereto, a pair of cross members movably secured to said spaced apart arms, and the holding means is movably secured to the cross members. Thus, by adjusting the position of the cross members along the spaced apart arms and adjusting the position of the holding means along the cross members, the apparatus can accommodate substantially any size pallet load.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Burn [ APPARATUS FOR COVERING A PALLET LOAD WITH PLASTIC FILM [75] Inventor: Joseph Burn, Wyckoff, NJ.

[73] Assignee: J. & H. Company, Paterson, NJ.

[22] Filed: Nov. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 306,007

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lerner, David, Littenberg & Samuel July 16, 1974 [57 ABSTRACT Apparatus is provided for covering a pallet load with a tubular sheet of wrapping material, such as plastic film, which apparatus includes a frame, a vertically sliding support structure mounted on the frame, a plurality of holding means, such as clamps, for grasping wrapping material, carried by the support structure, each of the holding means being movable between open and closed positions, and operating means for moving the holding means from a closed to an open position, when the holding means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the loaded pallet. In one embodiment, the support structure includes a vertically sliding member having a pair of spaced apart arms secured thereto, a pair of cross members movably secured to said spaced apart: arms, and the holding means is movably secured to the cross members. Thus, by adjusting the position of the cross members along the spaced apart arms and adjusting the position of the holding means along the cross members, the apparatus can accommodate substantially any size pallet load.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUJMsmu 3,823.52?

saw 1 (If a w mow PATENTEDJIIU s 191 APPARATUS FOR COVERING A PALLET LOAD WITH PLASTIC FILM FIELD OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice to store and otherwise handle stacks of goods, such as cases of bottles and other cartons of comparatively large size, while supported on wooden pallets. When the pallets are to be kept outdoors or otherwise surrounded by an atmosphere which may damage the stacked material, plastic covers have been employed for protecting the stored goods.

One widely used technique for protecting stored goods is by enclosing the goods in loosely fitting bags of heat-shrinkable plastic film, and thento expose the bags to heat sufficient to cause shrinkage of the bags so that the bags tightly engage the stored goods. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,688 to Kaliwoda et al. and US. Pat. No. 3,529,717 to McDougal disclose techniques for shrink-wrapping a loaded pallet in a plastic film. Unfortunately, however, these patents do not disclose apparatus which can be employed in carrying out such techniques.

Other patents disclose apparatus for placing shrink film around a palletized load. For example, US. Pat. No. 3,590,549 to Zelnick discloses an automatic system which utilizes four different roll sheets all joined by a single severing and joined to form the complete package above, below and around the pallet load, in an automatic fashion. The apparatus employed is rather complex and expensive and would not be practical for use in a small business operation.

US. Pat. No. 3,626,654 discloses method and apparatus for over wrapping a load supported on a pallet wherein the package is rotated during the wrapping.

All of the aforementioned apparatus for use in wrapping a load carried on a pallet is of the automatic or semiautomatic type, complex in structure and expensive to purchase and maintain. Thus, for a relatively small business operation, the only alternative is to manually wrap the loaded pallet with a plastic wrap. Such an operation normally requires the labor of four men each of which grabs a corner of a tubular sheet of plastic film, fits the film over the top of the load and brings eachcorner down on the load. This is a time consuming operation which is most inefficient and involves inordinate labor costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present invention for covering a loaded pallet with a tubular sheet of wrapping material, such as heat shrinkable plastic film, overcomes all of the disadvantages associated with prior art apparatus employed for such purposes. The apparatus of the invention is of simple construction, is easy to operate, and in fact, can be operated efficiently by a single person, and is relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain.

The apparatus of the invention comprises a frame; a support structure slidably mounted on the frame; a plurality of holding means for grasping wrapping material, carried by the support structure, each of the holding means being movable between open and closed positions; and operating means for moving the holding means from a closed to an open position, when the holding means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the load to be covered.

The support structure generally comprises a vertically sliding member having a pair of spaced apart arms secured thereto, a pair of cross members movably secured to said arms and the plurality of holding means movably secured to said cross members. The frame in-' cludes guide means for the vertically sliding member of the support structure, and may further include means for feeding plastic film or other wrapping material to the support structure and subsequently to the holding means. The apparatus may be employed for covering substantially any size load by adjusting the position of the cross members along the spaced apart arms and adjusting the position of the holding means along the cross members, as will be seen hereinafter.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support structure is counterbalanced so that it may be easily raised and lowered along the guide means of the frame. I

The holding means will preferably be four or more in number and will generally comprise a clamping device for gripping an edge of a plastic film or other wrap, which is adapted to move between open and closed positions and can be moved from a closed to an open position by said operating means.

The operating means can generally comprise any means which will be actuated, after the loaded pallet is covered with the plastic film, to thereby cause each of the clamping devices to move from a closed to an open position and release the plastic film.

Briefly, the apparatus of the inventionoperates as follows. The holding means are adjusted along the above-mentioned cross members and the cross members are adjusted along the spaced apart arms of the support structure so as to generally conform with the width of the sides of the load to be covered. Thereafter, pre-perforated tubular sheet of plastic material is fed to the holding means, and each of four corners of the tubular sheet is attached to the holding means so as to spread out the mouth ofthe sheet into a four-sided configuration large enough to fit over the top of the load. The support structure is then lowered along the guide means of the frame pulling the tubular sheet of plastic film over and about the load on the pallet. When the spaced apart arms reach their lowest position, the operating means employed in conjunction with the holding means will contact the floor or other surface upon which the loaded pallet is sitting and actuate the holding means so as tomove them from a closed position to an open positionto thereby release the plastic film. The plastic film covering the top of the load is severed from the remainder of the film, by cutting along the perforations in the film. The pallet is removed and the next bag is then attached to the holding means and the procedure repeated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention. I V

. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a top portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. I j

FIG. 2A is a side view of a holding means in an open position, employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the holding means of FIG. 2A, in a partially closed position.

FIG. 2C is a side view of the holding means of FIGS. 2A and 2B in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. I ready for covering a loaded pallet.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 wherein the loaded pallet is partially covered.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. I wherein the loaded pallet is completely covered.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus of the invention comprises a frame, generally referred to by the number which includes upright supports 12 and 14, a base generally referred to by the numeral 16, an upper support member 18 and a vertically mounted guide member 20. The base 16 includes removable roll means 22, for carrying a roll of plastic film preferably, in the form of a tubular sheet, rotatably mounted on

members

24, 26 secured to base 16.

Support structure generally referred to by the numeral 30 is movably mounted on the frame 10 so that it may move up and down the frame. Support structure 30 includes a sliding member 32, which in a preferred embodiment is movably mounted on guide member so that it can slide up and down the guide member; the sliding member 32 may be equipped with rollers at either end (only roller 33 is shown) which engage tracks or slots 35 in the upright support members 12, 14 (as shown in FIG. 3) to prevent the sliding member 32 from swinging around guide member 20.

The sliding member 32 includes a pair of spaced apart

arms

34, 36, to which are attached movably mounted

cross members

38, 40.

Cross members

38, 40 are mounted in and ride along the grooves, tracks or

channels

42, 44 in spaced apart

arms

34, 36 respectively.

A plurality of holding means 46, 48 50 and 52 (the last one shown in phantom) for grasping plastic film are movably mounted on the

cross members

38, 40. Thus, the

cross members

38, 40 can be moved to any position along the spaced apart

arms

34, 36 and the holding means 46, 48,50 and 52 can be moved to any position along the

cross members

38, 40 to accommodate any size load so long as the width and length of the load is not greater than the length of the spaced apart

arms

34, 36 and the

cross members

38, 40.

The sliding member 32, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is counterbalanced by weight 60. The weight 60 is tied to rope 62 which is guided and supported by pulleys connected to the top supporting members 18 (but not shown) and finally connected to the sliding member. The sliding member will be equipped with bearings at the contact points with the guide member 20 to facilitate movement up and down the guide member.

The frame 10 preferably will also include rotatably mounted guide roll 64 and guide roll 66 rotatably mounted on spaced apart

members

68, 70 secured to said frame.

The

guide rollers

64, 66 aid in guiding plastic film from a supply roll mounted on roll means 22 to the spaced apart

arms

34, 36.

The holding means 46, 48, 50 and 52 as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C preferably comprises a clamping means generally referred to by the numeral 70. The clamping means 70 includes a base 74 which is adapted to be movably secured to the

cross members

38, 40 employing any conventional means. The clamping means includes a body portion 76 secured to the base 74 by bolts and nuts or other conventional means; pivotedly attached to the body 76 is a first jaw 78 which is con nected to a first link member 79 which pivots on pivot or pin 82. A second jaw 80 may be connected to the base 74 as shown and may include a pad, such as a plastic foam material or sponge 82 secured thereto.

A control member 84 is pivotally connected to body 76 by pivot or pin 86 at one end, as shown, and terminates in handle means 88. The control member is pivotally connected to the jaw 78 by second link member 90 which is pivotally connected to the first link member 79 via pivot or pin 92 and to the control member 84 by pivot or pin 94 as shown. The control member 84 may be connected to the base 74 via spring 85 to facilitate movement of the control member to open the

jaws

78, 80.

The holding means shown in the FIGS. 2A to 2C also includes operating or actuating means generally referred to by the numeral which includes a vertically disposed hollow tube 102 having a vertical slot 104. One end 103 of the tube 102 is secured to the base by any conventional means, as shown and the other end 105 is open. Tubular insert 106 fits within the tube 102 and a portion thereof represented by 108 extends out of the open end of the tube 102. Tubular insert 106 is attached to the end 103 of the tube 102 by spring 110, and has a bar or pin 112 attached thereto, which pin extends through the slot 104 in tube 102. Thus, by pressing, the end 108 of tubular insert 108, the pin 112 will travel up slot 104 towards the end 103 of the tube 102.

The holding means functions as follows. An edge of plastic film is positioned between

jaws

78, 80. The

jaws

78, 80 are closed by moving the handle means 88 in a clockwise direction from the open position; causing the control memeber 84 to pivot on pin 86 causing second link member 90 to pivot on pin 94 (connected to said control member 84) and drive the first link member 79 and jaw 78 in a clockwise direction toward the jaw 80 as shown in FIG. 2B. As the handle means 88 continues to move in a clockwise direction, the second link member 90 contacts the first link member 79 at stop 91 and the pivot 92 moves through and beyond an imaginary

line joining pivots

86 and 94 as shown in FIG. 2C. The

jaws

78, 80 are thereby snapped closed into tight engagement.

As the handle means 88 moves in an clockwise direction, it forces pin 112 down slot 104 of tube 102 causing end 108 of tubular insert 106 to move out of the open end 105 of tube 102. The spring 110 is in a biased position when the

jaws

78, 80 are shut tight.

The

jaws

78, 80 of the holding means are automatically opened when the exposed end 108 of tubular insert 106 strikes the surface carrying the loaded pallet, such as the floor. Contact of end 108 with the floor causes tubular insert 106 to ride up tube 102 aided by the spring 110, causing pin 112 to push against handle means 88 and force handle means 88 to move in counter-clockwise direction thereby causing the second link member 90 to move in a counter-clockwise direction, pulling with it the first link member 79 and causing the jaw 78 to move away from engagement with jaw 80 as shown in FIG. 2B. The spring 85 will aid in further moving the handle means 88 in a counter-clockwise direction so that the jaws will be fully disengaged and completely open as shown in FIG. 2A.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the frame will also include plastic film retaining means generally referred to by the numeral 140 which moves between up and down positions and includes a U-shaped member comprising side legs 142 and 144 and cross leg 146 connected to each of side legs 142 and 144, said cross leg 146 including magnets 148 which are preferably rolling magnets as shown. Side legs 142 and 144 are pivotally mounted on

mounts

150 and 152, respectively, attached to upper portions of upright supports 12 and 14, respectively, as shown. As seen in FIG. 1A, when retaining means 140 is in the down position, cross leg 146 is supported by cross member 154 mounted on

members

68 and 70. Side leg 142 includes lift member 156 which is pivotally secured thereto, for facilitating movement of retaining means 140 into up and down positions. Lift member 156 may include

notches

158 and 160 for retaining the retaining means 140 in the up and down positions, respectively, when either of said notches are engaged by pin 162 attached to upright support 12, as shown.

The retaining means 140 function as follows. Before feeding plastic film over guide roll 66, the retaining means 140 is moved to an up position by lifting lift member 156 upwards and engaging notch 158 thereof with pin 160. Plastic film is then passed under cross leg 146 and over cross member 154 and over guide roll 66. The lift member 156 is then disengaged from pin 162 and lowered so that cross leg 146 is brought down onto the plastic film resting on cross member 154 and notch 160 is brought into engagement with pin 162. The magnets 148 and cross leg 146 facilitate retention of the plastic film against the cross member 154 and prevent the end of the plastic film from returning to the supply roll thereof.

The apparatus of the invention may also include endless belts or

tapes

170 and 172 which are slung around roll means 22 and guide rolls 64 and 66 as shown in FIG. 1,

Tapes

170 and 172 include clip means 174 and 176 as shown which are adapted to hold the end ofa roll of plastic film. The belts including such fastening or clip means are useful in facilitating the loading of a new roll of plastic film. Thus, after a new roll of plastic film is loaded on roll means 22, the end of the plastic film is secured to clip means 174 and 176 and the belts are pulled down around roll means 22 and guide rolls 64 and 66 until the end of the plastic film is brought to a position over the guide roll 66 as shown in FIG. 1. The end of the plastic film may be then disengaged from clip means 174 and 176 and said film is ready to be secured to holding means 46, 48, 50 and 52.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the apparatus of the invention operates as follows:

A loaded pallet, such as a stack of cartons 200 mounted on a wooden pallet 202, is positioned in front of the apparatus.

The position of the

cross members

38, 40 on the spaced apart

arms

34, 36 is adjusted so that the cross members will fit around the load.

A roll 204 of plastic film 206 in tubular sheet form is placed on the roll means 22. The plastic film is preferably perforated (as shown by score lines 208 in FIG. 1) and pre-sealed as shown by seal 210 in FIG. 1 so that sections of the required length, sealed at one end, can be easily detached from the remainder of the roll.

Retaining means 140 is moved to an up position and the end of the plastic film 206 is guided around

rollers

64 and 66 by means of

belts

170 and 172 as described hereinbefore. Retaining means 140 is then moved to the down position. The sliding member 32, carrying spaced apart

arms

34, 36 is moved along guide member 20 to a position above the top of the loaded pallet. The edges of the tubular sheet of plastic film 206 are engaged in the jaws 78, of each of the four holding means 46, 48, 50 and 52 thereby spreading the mouth of the tubular sheet open, into a more or less four-sided configuration, so that the mouth is large enough to fit over the top of and around the loaded pallet. At this time, the

jaws

78, 80 are in a closed position and tubular insert 106 is in a spring-loaded position with end 108 extending out of the open end of ,tube 102 (FIG. 2c).

The loaded pallet is now covered by plastic film by moving the sliding member 32, including the spaced apart

arms

34, 36 and

cross members

38, 40 down over the load which in turn causes a section of tubular sheet of plastic film 206 to be pulled down over the load as shown in FIG. 4. As the spaced apart arms reach their lower-most position as shown in FIG. 5, the end 108 of tubular insert 106 of the holding means grasping the edges of the plastic film will contact the floor and drive thepin 112 against the handle 88, thereby opening the

jaws

78, 80 of the holding means, and causing the edges of the plastic film to be released.

The section of the plastic film covering the loaded pallet is then easily severed from the remainder of the roll of film by tearing along the

perforated presealed portion

208, 210 mentioned above.

The sliding member 32 carrying the spaced apart

arms

34, 36 is then raised to a position over the top of the load and the covered load can then'be removed by a fork-lift truck or the like.

It will be noted that physical effort in moving the sliding member 32 up and down the guide member 20 is minimized by the counter-weight 60 described above.

It will be understood that any conventional clamping devices such as toggle clamps, equipped with means for opening the clamps after the load is covered, may be employed as the holding means of the invention. The clamping device may include one or two movable jaws. Further, it will be understood that the above description of the operation of the holding means is correlated to the'FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C and that when the holding means is positioned on the cross members so that the

jaws

78,80 may be closed by moving handle means 88 in a counter-clockwise direction and opened by moving the handle means 88 in a clockwise direction. Further, the operating means may take the form of the handle means 88 itself, where such handle means is designed to contact the floor surface when the vertically sliding member and spaced

apartarms

34,36 reached their lower-most position, and cause the jaw 78 to disengage from jaw 80.

The pallet load covered by the plastic film or cover or envelope is moved to a heat treating station where heat is applied to the plastic film employing conventional techniques known in the art to cause it to shrink and tightly surround the outer contours of the cartons loaded on the pallet. A solid, contaminationimpervious outer covering is thereby formed about the entire load with the lower end of the envelope gripping the pallet. The top of the envelope, which is preferably presealed, will likewise grip the top of the peripheral cartons. The stacked cartons within the envelope are thus uniformly held and braced by the envelope to prevent shifting of the columns of cartons on the pallet and shifting of individual cartons within the columns.

A particular material which has been found suitable for use in the apparatus of the present invention is polyethylene in a film of tubular form preferably gusseted and having biaxial shrink characteristics. A single sheet of approximately 1 mils thickness has been found to be adequate in connection with the above-described application but a number of layers may be used where larger loads are being accommodated. The entire palletizing operation may be performed in about one minute.

A compact stabilized package is thus created which is readily shipped and handled with a minimum of difficulty due to the instability or shifting of the load. Upon arrival at its destination the film is easily severed with an appropriate tool and the stacked cartons are readily available for dismantling.

The apparatus of the invention enables one workman to install plastic covers or bags over a loaded pallet, prior to heat-shrink packaging, quickly and economically. The present apparatus is of simple design and rugged construction requiring no expensive and complicated automatic equipment that uses costly power and needs constant maintenance. The apparatus is easily adjusted to accommodate pallet loads of varying dimensions; however, as will be apparent, the pallet load cannot extend higher than the uppermost position of the sliding member 32 or the upright supports l2, l4 and the sides of the entire load must be able to fit within the area defined by the spaced apart

arms

34, 36 and the

cross members

38, 40.

It will also be apparent that the plastic film may be fed as separate sacks or tubes as opposed to from a roll of such plastic. However, where feed rollers are employed, such rollers can be motorized. For example, a pair of motorized nip rollers may be employed in place of guide roller 64 and/or guide roller 66.

What is claimed is:

1. Combination holding and activating means comprising a base adapted to be secured to a support structure;

a body portion secured to said base;

first jaw means including a first link member pivotally attached to said body;

second jaw means adapted to engage said first jaw means;

a control member pivotally connected to said body portion;

a second link member pivotally connected to each of said control member and said first link member of said first jaw means;

and said operating means comprises a vertically disposed hollow tube having an elongated vertical slot therein, one end of which tube is secured to the base of said holding means, and the other end is open;

tubular insert means positioned within said hollow tube with one end of said tubular insert means extending out the open end of said hollow tube;

bar means secured to and extending out from said tubular insert means and adapted to ride in and extend through the vertical slot formed in said hollow tube; said hollow tube and tubular insert means being positioned such that as said bar means rides in said vertical slot of said hollow tube, it contacts the control means of said holding means; and tension means disposed within the hollow tube, operatively connecting said tubular insert means with the base of said holding means.

2. Apparatus for positioning a length of tubular sheet of wrapping material over the top and sides of a load, comprising, in combination,

a frame, comprising a pair of upright supports, and a base for supporting said supports;

a support structure slidably mounted on said frame;

wrapping material retaining means, comprising a U- shaped member including a pair of side legs and a cross leg attached to said side legs, said side legs being pivotally mounted to an upper portion of said upright supports, said cross leg including a magnet means;

means for guiding the wrapping material to the support structure, including a cross member for cooperating with said cross leg and magnet means to sandwich said wrapping material therebetween;

a plurality of holding means, for grasping wrapping material, carried by said support structure, each of the holding means being movable between open and closed positions; and

operating means for moving said holding means from a closed to an open position, when the holding means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the load.

3. Apparatus for positioning a length of tubular sheet of wrapping material over the top and sides of a load, comprising, in combination,

a support structure slidably mounted on said frame;

means for guiding the wrapping material to the support structure;

means for guiding the beginning portion of a roll of wrapping material over said means for guiding the wrapping material to the support structure, comprising a pair of endless belts selectively positioned on said frame, each of said belts including fastening means for temporarily grasping the end of the wrapping material;

4. Apparatus for positioning a length of tubular sheet of wrapping material over the top and sides of the load, comprising, in combination,

a frame;

a support structure slidably mounted on said frame;

a plurality of holding means, for grasping wrapping material, carried by said support structure, said holding means comprising;

a. a base adapted to be movably secured to said support structure;

b. a body portion secured to said base; I

c. first jaw means including a first link member pivotally attached to said body;

d. second jaw means adapted to engage said first jaw means;

e. a control member pivotally connected to said body portion; and

f. a second link member pivotally connected to each of said control members and said first link member of said first jaw means; each of the holding means being movable between open and closed positions; and

an operating means for moving said holding means from a closed to an open position, when the holding means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the load, said operating means comprismg; i

a. a vertically disposed hollow tube having an elongated vertical slot therein; one end of which tube is secured to the base of said holding means, and the other end if open;

b. tubular insert means positioned within saidhollow tube with one end of said tubular insert means extending out the open end of said hollow tube;

c. bar means secured to and extending out from said tubular insert means, and adapted to ride in and extend through the vertical slot formed in said hollow tube; said hollow tube and tubular insert means being positioned such that as said bar means ride in said vertical slot of said hollow tube, it contacts the control means of said holding means; and

d. tension means disposed within the hollow tube, operatively connecting said tubular insert means with the base of said holding means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said holding means includes biased means operatively connected to said control means and said base or body portion thereof.

Claims

1. Combination holding and activating means comprising a base adapted to be secured to a support structure; a body portion secured to said base; first jaw means including a first link member pivotAlly attached to said body; second jaw means adapted to engage said first jaw means; a control member pivotally connected to said body portion; a second link member pivotally connected to each of said control member and said first link member of said first jaw means; and said operating means comprises a vertically disposed hollow tube having an elongated vertical slot therein, one end of which tube is secured to the base of said holding means, and the other end is open; tubular insert means positioned within said hollow tube with one end of said tubular insert means extending out the open end of said hollow tube; bar means secured to and extending out from said tubular insert means and adapted to ride in and extend through the vertical slot formed in said hollow tube; said hollow tube and tubular insert means being positioned such that as said bar means rides in said vertical slot of said hollow tube, it contacts the control means of said holding means; and tension means disposed within the hollow tube, operatively connecting said tubular insert means with the base of said holding means.

2. Apparatus for positioning a length of tubular sheet of wrapping material over the top and sides of a load, comprising, in combination, a frame, comprising a pair of upright supports, and a base for supporting said supports; a support structure slidably mounted on said frame; wrapping material retaining means, comprising a U-shaped member including a pair of side legs and a cross leg attached to said side legs, said side legs being pivotally mounted to an upper portion of said upright supports, said cross leg including a magnet means; means for guiding the wrapping material to the support structure, including a cross member for cooperating with said cross leg and magnet means to sandwich said wrapping material therebetween; a plurality of holding means, for grasping wrapping material, carried by said support structure, each of the holding means being movable between open and closed positions; and operating means for moving said holding means from a closed to an open position, when the holding means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the load.

3. Apparatus for positioning a length of tubular sheet of wrapping material over the top and sides of a load, comprising, in combination, a frame, comprising a pair of upright supports, and a base for supporting said supports; a support structure slidably mounted on said frame; means for guiding the wrapping material to the support structure; means for guiding the beginning portion of a roll of wrapping material over said means for guiding the wrapping material to the support structure, comprising a pair of endless belts selectively positioned on said frame, each of said belts including fastening means for temporarily grasping the end of the wrapping material; a plurality of holding means, for grasping wrapping material, carried by said support structure, each of the holding means being movable between open and closed positions; and operating means for moving said holding means from a closed to an open position, when the holding means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the load.

4. Apparatus for positioning a length of tubular sheet of wrapping material over the top and sides of the load, comprising, in combination, a frame; a support structure slidably mounted on said frame; a plurality of holding means, for grasping wrapping material, carried by said support structure, said holding means comprising; a. a base adapted to be movably secured to said support structure; b. a body portion secured to said base; c. first jaw means including a first link member pivotally attached to said body; d. second jaw means adapted to engage said first jaw means; e. a control member pivotally connected to said body portion; and f. a second link member pivotally connected to each of said contRol members and said first link member of said first jaw means; each of the holding means being movable between open and closed positions; and an operating means for moving said holding means from a closed to an open position, when the holding means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the load, said operating means comprising; a. a vertically disposed hollow tube having an elongated vertical slot therein; one end of which tube is secured to the base of said holding means, and the other end if open; b. tubular insert means positioned within said hollow tube with one end of said tubular insert means extending out the open end of said hollow tube; c. bar means secured to and extending out from said tubular insert means, and adapted to ride in and extend through the vertical slot formed in said hollow tube; said hollow tube and tubular insert means being positioned such that as said bar means ride in said vertical slot of said hollow tube, it contacts the control means of said holding means; and d. tension means disposed within the hollow tube, operatively connecting said tubular insert means with the base of said holding means.