Method and apparatus for securing a load to a pallet with a roped film web

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11472580-B2
Application number	US-201715418150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2017
Priority date	Jan 31, 2003
Publication date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 18, 2022

Abstract

An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a film dispenser for dispensing a film web, at least one guide rollers configured to engage the width of the film web, and at least one roping element. The at least one roping element may be a cable rolling roper configured to roll a portion of the film web into a rolled cable of film. The apparatus may also include means for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap a roped portion of the film web around a base of the load/top portion of a pallet supporting the load.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for wrapping a load, comprising:
dispensing a film web from a film dispenser;
rolling a portion of the film web into a cable, including rolling an outer edge of the film web inward upon itself and towards a center of the film web;
providing relative rotation between the load and the film dispenser to wrap the film web around the load; and
securing the load to a pallet supporting the load with the film web and cable by driving the rolled cable portion of the film web to an elevation below the top of a pallet supporting the load and concurrently wrapping an unrolled portion of the film web around the load above the top of the pallet.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein rolling a portion of the film web includes engaging an edge portion of the film web with a cable rolling roper.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein engaging the edge portion of the film web includes engaging the edge portion with a circumferential groove in a roller forming the cable rolling roper.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein rolling the portion of the film web further includes engaging at least a portion of the film web with a guide roller.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein engaging at least a portion of the film web with a guide roller includes engaging with a guide roller coated with a cellular plastic.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the cable rolling roper is at least partially nylon.

7. The method of claim 2 including positioning the cable rolling roper downstream of a guide roller of the film dispenser.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein rolling the portion of the film web into a cable forms a tightly rolled cable of film.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein engaging the edge portion of the film web includes engaging one of a lower edge and an upper edge of the film web with the cable rolling roper.

Assignees

• Lantech Com Llc

Inventors

• Lancaster Patrick R
• Norris Donnie
• Eldridge David E

Classifications

• B65B11/006 Primary

  Helical strip wrapping combined with roping · CPC title

• B65B2210/20

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

• B65B11/025

  by webs revolving around stationary articles · CPC title

• B65B41/16

  by rollers · CPC title

• B65B11/045

  by rotating platforms supporting the articles · CPC title