Apparatus for securing a load to a pallet with a roped film web

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9290282-B2
Application number	US-201514802635-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2003
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

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. An apparatus for wrapping a load, comprising:
a dispenser for dispensing a film web;
a first roller engaging at least a portion of a width of the film web;
at least one roping element to form a cable from a portion of the film web; and
a second guide roller engaging at least a portion of the width of the film web,
the second guide roller being movable into a first and a second position, the second position a tilted drive down position to drive down the film web from a first elevation to a second elevation through rotation of the second guide roller, the second elevation lower than the first elevation,
the first position a non-drive down position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a motor to provide rotation of the load relative to the dispenser.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the dispenser is on a rotatable arm.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the dispenser is on a ring.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first roller is tilted towards a direction of travel of the film web.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one roping element is a cable rolling roper to roll a portion of the film web into a cable.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one roping element is positioned downstream of the first roller.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second guide roller is downstream of the first roller.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a second roping element.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first roping element is positioned downstream of the first roller and a second roping element positioned downstream of the second guide roller.

11. The apparatus ot claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first roller and second guide roller are tiltable relative to each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second guide roller is tiltable in the drive down position in a direction of travel of the film web to drive down a portion of a roped film web at a first vertical position to about an elevation of a bottom edge of non-roped film whendispensed in the first vertical position.

13. The apparatus for wrapping a load of claim 2 wherein the roping element travels vertically with the first roller.

14. The apparatus for wrapping a load of claim 2 wherein the roping element and the second guide roller are connected to a lever, the lever positioning the second guide roller in the tilted drive down position and positioning the roping element against a lower edge of the film web.

15. The apparatus for wrapping a load of claim 2 wherein the dispenser travels vertically on a mast.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the roping element is a roller and includes a circumferential groove for receiving and rolling an edge of the film web.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the roping element is positioned to roll a portion of the film web into a cable.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the roping element is positioned to roll a bottom portion of the film web into a cable.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second guide roller in the non-drive down position engages the film web.

20. An apparatus for wrapping a load, comprising:
a dispenser for dispensing a film web;
a first roller engaging at least a portion of a width of the film web;
at least one roping element movable into the film web to create a cable which retains its structural integrity during the wrapping process; and
a second guide roller being movable between a first and a second position, the second guide roller engaging at least a portion of the width of the film web, the second position a tilted drive down position, the second guide roller rotatable to drive down the elevation of the film web in the second position from a first elevation to a second elevation lower than the first elevation,
the first position of the second guide roller being a non-drive down position.

21. An apparatus for wrapping a load, comprising:
a dispenser for dispensing a film web;
a roping element to form a portion of the film web into a cable, the cable retaining its structural integrity during the wrapping process;
a rotatable drive down guide roller engaging at least a portion of the width of the film web;
wherein the rotatable drive down guide roller is movable between a first and a second position, the first position a tilted drive down position to drive down at least a portion of the film web from a first elevation to a second elevation lower than the first elevation through rotation of the drive down guide roller; and
wherein the second position of the drive down guide roller is a non-drive down position.

Assignees

• Lantech Com Llc

Inventors

• Lancaster Iii Patrick R
• Norris Donnie
• Eldridge David E

Classifications

• B65B41/16

  by rollers · CPC title

• B65B11/02

  Wrapping articles or quantities of material, without changing their position during the wrapping operation, e.g. in moulds with hinged folders (by doubling a wrapper and securing its opposed free margins to enclose contents B65B11/48; by disposing contents between two sheets and securing their opposed free margins B65B11/50) · CPC title

• 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