Stretch wrapping machine with packaging material tail treatment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12359730-B2
Application number	US-202318473744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2023
Priority date	Jul 6, 2020
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

A method, apparatus and program product utilize pressurized fluid flow from a position generally upstream of a free end of a packaging material tail and at an acute angle relative to the side of a load while the free end of the packaging material tail is unsupported and/or utilize pressurized fluid flow in two or more directions and from two or more positions to assist in adhering a packaging material tail to the side of a load at the completion of a wrapping operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of securing a packaging material tail to a side of a wrapped load, the packaging material tail formed by severing a web of packaging material extending between a corner of the load and a cutting assembly, the method comprising:
directing a first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail at a first angle relative to the side of the load; and
directing a second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail at a second angle relative to the side of the load;
wherein the first angle is smaller than the second angle; and
wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed while a length of the packaging material tail extending from the corner of the load to a free end thereof is unsupported.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is an acute angle relative to the side of the load.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first angle is an acute angle relative to a plane extending between the corner of the load and the cutting assembly.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first angle is less than about 30 degrees relative to the side of the load.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second angle is substantially orthogonal relative to the side of the load.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first flow of fluid is directed slightly upward from horizontal to compensate for a weight of the packaging material tail when unsupported.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first flow of fluid has a rate of about 9 to about 15 miles per hour.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first flow of fluid has a rate of about 11 to about 13 miles per hour.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the first flow of fluid in a plane extending between the corner and the cutting assembly has a height that is less than or equal to a height of the web of packaging material as presented to the cutting assembly.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the first flow of fluid in a plane extending between the corner and the cutting assembly has a height that is less than about 18 inches.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the first flow of fluid in a plane extending between the corner and the cutting assembly has a width that is about 12 inches to about 14 inches to accommodate loads of differing dimensions.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed before directing the second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed before severing the web of packaging material.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed concurrently with severing the web of packaging material.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed after severing the web of packaging material.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail causes the packaging material tail to come into contact with the side of the load.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail reduces bunching of the packaging material tail widthwise and/or lengthwise prior to coming into contact with the side of the load.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein directing the second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail increases adherence of the packaging material tail to the side of the load.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein directing the second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed after the packaging material tail comes into contact with the side of the load.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein directing the second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed before the packaging material tail comes into contact with the side of the load.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein directing the second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed concurrently with the packaging material tail coming into contact with the side of the load.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing the second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail includes directing a plurality of pulsed flows of fluid towards the packaging material tail.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of pulsed flows of fluid impact the packaging material tail at a plurality of locations across a width of the packaging material tail.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first flow of fluid has a lower velocity than the second flow of fluid.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first flow of fluid has a higher volume than the second flow of fluid.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first flow of fluid has a longer duration than the second flow of fluid.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed from a first position generally upstream of a free end of the packaging material tail and directing the second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed from a second position that is different from the first position.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the first position is farther from the side of the load than the second position.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing the second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed using one or more nozzles coupled to a source of pressurized fluid.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the one or more nozzles are rotatably supported by a support assembly that is at least partially inside of a zone of rotation for a packaging material dispenser that rotates about the load to rotate between a substantially horizontal storage position and a substantially vertical operating position.

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing the first flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail is performed using one or more nozzles coupled to a source of pressurized fluid.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the one or more nozzles are rotatably supported by a support assembly that is at least partially inside of a zone of rotation for a packaging material dispenser that rotates about the load to rotate between a substantially horizontal storage position and a substantially vertical operating position.

33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the one or more nozzles are disposed outside of a zone of rotation for a packaging material dispenser that rotates about the load.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the one or more nozzles are supported by the packaging material dispenser.

35. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to directing the first and second flows of fluid towards the packaging material tail, engaging the web of packaging material with a packaging material holder disposed downstream of the cutting assembly; and
severing the web of packaging material with the cutting assembly while the web of packaging material is engaged by the packaging material holder.

Assignees

• Lantech Com Llc

Inventors

• Lancaster Iii Patrick R
• Limousin Jean-Louis

Classifications

• F16K27/044

  slide valves with flat obturating members · CPC title

• F16K3/316

  Guiding of the slide · CPC title

• F16K3/0281 Primary

  Guillotine or blade-type valves, e.g. no passage through the valve member · CPC title

• F16K3/0272

  permitting easy assembly or disassembly · CPC title

• F16K3/0227

  Packings · CPC title