Automatic roll change for stretch wrapping machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11401063-B2
Application number	US-202017131004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2020
Priority date	Apr 28, 2016
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

An automatic roll change system for a stretch wrapping machine may include multiple mechanically-actuated load stations capable of being actuated by a common actuator assembly, as well as pivotable support members for use in positioning packaging material in a tortuous path for loading into a packaging material dispenser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for changing packaging material rolls on a stretch wrapping machine having a packaging material dispenser including a packaging material roll carrier and a plurality of rollers configured to dispense a web of packaging material from a roll of packaging material loaded onto the packaging material roll carrier, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of load stations, each load station including:
a packaging material roll support configured to support a replacement roll of packaging material for loading onto the packaging material roll carrier during a roll change operation; and
a packaging material guide assembly defining at least one receptacle for receiving the plurality of rollers of the packaging material dispenser during at least a portion of the roll change operation, the packaging material guide assembly configured to support a leading end of a web of packaging material from the replacement roll of packaging material in a tortuous path corresponding to a winding of packaging material through the plurality of rollers, and the packaging material guide assembly including a mechanically-actuated release mechanism configured to disengage the packaging material guide assembly from the leading end of the web and thereby release the leading end of the web onto the plurality of rollers when the plurality of rollers are positioned within the at least one receptacle;

a positioning mechanism coupled to the plurality of load stations and configured to selectively position each of the plurality of load stations in a loading position; and
an actuator assembly including at least one mechanical actuator disposed in a fixed position relative to the loading position to actuate the mechanically-actuated release mechanism of any of the plurality of load stations when so positioned in the loading position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a carousel configured to rotate about a generally vertical axis of rotation, wherein the plurality of load stations are positioned at a plurality of respective angular positions on the carousel, and wherein the positioning mechanism includes a motor operatively coupled to the carousel to rotate the carousel about the axis of rotation thereof to selectively position each of the plurality of load stations in the loading position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a support arm supporting the carousel and configured to rotate about a second generally vertical axis of rotation to move the carousel along a generally arcuate path between first and second positions, wherein the first position is disposed proximate the stretch wrapping machine and relative to the packaging material dispenser to enable the positioning mechanism to position one of the plurality of load stations in the loading position for loading or unloading of the packaging material dispenser, and wherein the second position is distal from the stretch wrapping machine to enable an operator to manually remove a used roll of packaging material and/or manually load a replacement roll of packaging material from or on a load station among the plurality of load stations.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the packaging material roll support of a first load station among the plurality of load stations is a first packaging material roll support disposed at a first predetermined angular position on the carousel, wherein the first load station further includes a second packaging material roll support disposed at a second predetermined angular position on the carousel, and wherein during a roll change operation performed for the first load station, the positioning mechanism rotates the carousel to the second predetermined angular position to enable release of a used roll of packaging material from the packaging material roll carrier onto the second packaging material roll support and then rotates the carousel to the first predetermined angular position to enable loading of the replacement roll of packaging material onto the packaging material roll carrier.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the carousel is devoid of any source of pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical energy to actuate packaging material guide assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism includes at least one pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical drive to selectively position each of the plurality of load stations in the loading position relative to the packaging material dispenser.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly includes at least one pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical drive to drive the at least one mechanical actuator and thereby actuate the mechanically-actuated release mechanism of any of the plurality of load stations positioned in the loading position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the packaging material roll support of each load station further includes a mechanically-actuated roll release, and wherein the actuator assembly further includes:
at least one roll release mechanical actuator positioned to actuate the mechanically-actuated roll release of any of the plurality of load stations positioned in the loading position; and
at least one pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical drive to drive the mechanically-actuated roll release and thereby actuate the mechanically-actuated roll release of any of the plurality of load stations positioned in the loading position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the mechanically-actuated roll release of each load station includes a retractable support peg movable linearly along a generally vertical axis between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the support peg is configured to receive a spool of a respective roll of packaging material, and in the second position the support peg is configured to be fully withdrawn from the spool.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the packaging material roll carrier of the packaging material dispenser includes a support shaft having at least one retractable support member disposed proximate a free end thereof and configured to support the spool of the respective roll of packaging material, wherein the mechanically-actuated roll release of each load station further includes a peripheral roll support mechanism configured to support the respective roll of packaging material during insertion of the support shaft of the packaging material carrier into the spool of the respective roll of packaging material during a roll change operation such that the spool of the respective roll of packaging material is positioned at a higher elevation than the at least one retractable support member when the support shaft of the packaging material carrier is fully inserted through the spool, and wherein release of the peripheral roll support mechanism during the roll change operation drops the respective roll of packaging material onto the at least one retractable support member of the packaging material roll carrier.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the packaging material guide assembly of each load station includes first and second support members disposed on opposite sides of the at least one receptacle, each of the first and second support members including at least one guide member configured to engage a portion of the leading end of the web of packaging material from the replacement roll of packaging material when the replacement roll of packaging material is supported on the packaging material roll support, wherein the mechanically-actuated release mechanism is coupled to the first and second support members to move the first and second support members from a supporting position to a release position, wherein the first and second support members in the suppor

Assignees

• Lantech Com Llc

Inventors

• Johnson Richard L
• Martin Curtis W
• Mccray Jeremy D

Classifications

• B65B2011/002

  Prestretching mechanism in wrapping machines · CPC title

• B65B11/04

  the articles being rotated · CPC title

• B65B57/04

  and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages · CPC title

• B65B11/025 Primary

  by webs revolving around stationary articles · CPC title

• B65B2210/18

  the web dispenser being mounted on a rotary ring · CPC title