Stretch-wrapping machine with self-adjusting pinch rollers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11352152-B2
Application number	US-202017011367-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2020
Priority date	Sep 20, 2019
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a stretch-wrapping machine with self-adjusting pinch rollers configured to reorient themselves to compensate for misalignment relative to their respective pre-stretch rollers. This ensures the pinch rollers press the entire width of the film against their respective pre-stretch rollers as the film is drawn through the rollers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wrapping machine comprising:
a wrapping-machine frame;
a guide mounted to the wrapping machine frame;
a guide actuator operably connected to the guide to move the guide vertically relative to the wrapping-machine frame;
a wrapping assembly mounted to the guide and comprising a film carriage, the film carriage comprising:
a film-carriage frame;
a first pre-stretch roller rotatably mounted to the film-carriage frame;
a first pinch-roller assembly comprising an arm and a first pinch roller having a first-pinch-roller rotational axis,
wherein the first pinch roller is connected to the arm so: (1) the first pinch roller is rotatable relative to the arm about the first pinch roller rotational axis; and (2) the first pinch roller is pivotable relative to the arm to pivot the first-pinch-roller rotational axis relative to the arm,
wherein the first pinch-roller assembly is pivotably mounted to the film-carriage frame by the arm so the first pinch roller is pivotable relative to the first pre-stretch roller between an engaged position in which the first pinch roller engages the first pre-stretch roller and a disengaged position in which the first pinch roller is disengaged from the first pre-stretch roller; and

a first biasing element biasing the first pinch roller to its engaged position; and

a wrapping-assembly actuator operably connected to the wrapping assembly to move the wrapping assembly relative to the guide.

2. The wrapping machine of claim 1 , wherein the first pinch-roller assembly further comprises a flexible-connection assembly that connects the arm to the first pinch roller.

3. The wrapping machine of claim 2 , wherein the flexible-connection assembly comprises a deformable flexible member.

4. The wrapping machine of claim 3 , wherein the flexible member is formed from a resilient elastomeric material.

5. The wrapping machine of claim 4 , wherein the first pinch-roller assembly further comprises a second arm connected to the first pinch roller.

6. The wrapping machine of claim 5 , wherein the first biasing element imparts a first biasing force on the arm that biases the first pinch roller to its engaged position, the film carriage further comprising a second biasing element that imparts a second biasing force on the second arm that biases the first pinch roller to its engaged position.

7. The wrapping machine of claim 6 , wherein the arm and the second arm are independently movable to cause the first pinch roller to rotate relative to the arm and the second arm so the first-pinch-roller rotational axis rotates relative to the arm and the second arm.

8. A film carriage for a wrapping machine, the film carriage comprising:
a film-carriage frame;
a first pre-stretch roller rotatably mounted to the film-carriage frame;
a first pinch-roller assembly comprising an arm and a first pinch roller having a first-pinch-roller rotational axis,
wherein the first pinch roller is connected to the arm so: (1) the first pinch roller is rotatable relative to the arm about the first pinch roller rotational axis; and (2) the first pinch roller is pivotable relative to the arm to pivot the first-pinch-roller rotational axis relative to the arm,
wherein the first pinch-roller assembly is pivotably mounted to the film-carriage frame by the arm so the first pinch roller is pivotable relative to the first pre-stretch roller between an engaged position in which the first pinch roller engages the first pre-stretch roller and a disengaged position in which the first pinch roller is disengaged from the first pre-stretch roller; and

a first biasing element biasing the first pinch roller to its engaged position.

9. The film carriage of claim 8 , wherein the first pinch-roller assembly further comprises a flexible-connection assembly that connects the arm to the first pinch roller.

10. The film carriage of claim 9 , wherein the flexible-connection assembly comprises a deformable flexible member.

11. The film carriage of claim 10 , wherein the flexible member is formed from a resilient elastomeric material.

12. The film carriage of claim 11 , wherein the first pinch-roller assembly further comprises a second arm connected to the first pinch roller.

13. The film carriage of claim 12 , wherein the first biasing element imparts a first biasing force on the arm that biases the first pinch roller to its engaged position, the film carriage further comprising a second biasing element that imparts a second biasing force on the second arm that biases the first pinch roller to its engaged position.

14. The film carriage of claim 13 , wherein the arm and the second arm are independently movable to cause the first pinch roller to rotate relative to the arm and the second arm so the first-pinch-roller rotational axis rotates relative to the arm and the second arm.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Mustonen Pekka
• Suolahti Yrjö
• Aarras Niko

Classifications

• B65B9/135

  for palletised loads · CPC title

• B65B41/16

  by rollers · CPC title

• B65B2011/002

  Prestretching mechanism in wrapping machines · CPC title

• B65B2210/16

  the web dispenser travelling around the article along a non-rotating ring · CPC title

• B65B11/025 Primary

  by webs revolving around stationary articles · CPC title