Demand based wrapping

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9908648-B2
Application number	US-94104710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2010
Priority date	Jan 7, 2008
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A control system for a wrapping apparatus may include a packaging material dispenser configured to dispense packaging material for wrapping a load. The control system may also include at least one sensor assembly configured to generate a signal based on instantaneous demand for packaging material at the load. The control system may further include a controller configured to control operation of the packaging material dispenser based at least in part on the signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for a wrapping apparatus, comprising:
a packaging material dispenser configured to dispense packaging material for wrapping a load supported on a pallet;
at least one sensor assembly including a distance measuring device measuring:
a distance from a first point to a second point within the wrapping apparatus, at least one of the points being on a portion of the dispensed packaging material

the sensor assembly generating an input based on the distance;
a controller configured to proportion payout of packaging material from the packaging material dispenser based at least in part on the input;
wherein the measured distance represents
an angle measured between a reference line extending from a point on the packaging material dispenser to a point on a surface of a dispensing roller of the packaging material dispenser at which packaging material leaves the dispensing roller, and a plane defined by a surface of the dispensed packaging material extending between the packaging material dispenser and the load.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to dampen the input in response to a reduction in the speed of the dispensed packaging material.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the first point is on the distance measuring device and the second point is on a surface of the dispensed packaging material.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller monitors movement of a path of the dispensed packaging material relative to the distance measuring device as the dispensed packaging material is dispensed to the load.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the distance measuring device is positioned above the load.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the distance measuring device is configured to move with the packaging material dispenser.

7. The control system of claim 1 , further including a sensor assembly configured to monitor relative rotation speed between the packaging material dispenser and the load.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller proportions payout of packaging material based at least in part on the input to approximate instantaneous demand for packaging material at the load.

9. An apparatus for wrapping a load supported on a pallet, comprising:
a packaging material dispenser including a dispensing drive configured to drive the packaging material dispenser to dispense packaging material;
a relative rotation assembly configured to provide relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load;
a first sensor assembly including a distance measuring device to measure:
a distance from a first point to a second point within the wrapping apparatus, at least one of the points being on a portion of the dispensed packaging material

the first sensor assembly generating an input based on the distance;
a controller configured to control operation of the dispensing drive to dispense packaging material in proportion to the input; and,
wherein the distance represents an angle measured between a reference line extending from a point on the packaging material dispenser to a point on a surface of a dispensing roller of the packaging material dispenser at which packaging material leaves the dispensing roller, and a plane defined by a surface of the dispensed packaging material extending between the packaging material dispenser and the load.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the packaging material dispenser includes a pre-stretch assembly including one or more pre-stretch rollers.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the sensed characteristic is of movement of the dispensed packaging material at a point between the packaging material dispenser and the load.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first sensor assembly is configured to monitor an amount of packaging material dispensed.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first sensor assembly is configured to monitor relative movement of a path of the dispensed packaging material relative to the packaging material dispenser.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , further including a second sensor assembly operatively coupled to a dispensing roller of the packaging material dispenser, the second sensor assembly being configured to sense rotation of the dispensing roller.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to set operation of the dispensing drive such that a signal generated by the second sensor assembly is proportional to a signal generated by the first sensor assembly, during at least a portion of a wrapping cycle.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to vary operation of the dispensing drive as the signal generated by the first sensor assembly changes.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the controller proportions payout of packaging material based at least in part on the input to approximate instantaneous demand for packaging material at the load.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the dispensing drive such that a predetermined ratio between an amount of packaging material dispensed and the instantaneous demand is achieved for at least a portion of the relative rotation.

19. A method for wrapping a load supported on a pallet, comprising:
driving a packaging material dispenser to dispense packaging material with a dispensing drive;
providing relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load;
measuring
a distance from a first point to a second point within the wrapping apparatus, at least one of the points being on a portion of the dispensed packaging material;

generating an input based on the measured distance;
controlling operation of the dispensing drive to dispense packaging material in proportion to the input; and,
wherein the measured distance represents an angle measured between a reference line extending from a point on the packaging material dispenser to a point on a surface of a dispensing roller of the packaging material dispenser at which packaging material leaves the dispensing roller, and a plane defined by a surface of the dispensed packaging material extending between the packaging material dispenser and the load.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein controlling operation of the dispensing drive to dispense packaging material in proportion to the input includes, with a controller, proportioning payout of packaging material based at least in part on the input to approximate instantaneous demand for packaging material at the load.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein controlling operation of the dispensing drive includes producing a predetermined ratio between an amount of packaging material dispensed and the instantaneous demand.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein driving a packaging material dispenser includes driving a dispensing roller of the packaging material dispenser with the dispensing drive.

23. The method of claim 19 , further including sensing rotation of the dispensing roller with a dispensing roller sensor assembly, and generating a dispensing roller signal with the dispensing roller sensor assembly based on the sensed rotation of the dispensing roller.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein sensing a distance includes measuring a distance between a distance measuring device and a point on a surface of the dispensed packaging material.

25. The method of c

Assignees

• Lancaster P R Iii
• Mitchell Michael
• Harris Thomas
• Janes Sr Robert D
• Johnson Richard L
• Lantech Com Llc

Inventors

• Lancaster Iii Patrick R
• Mitchell Michael
• Harris Thomas
• Janes Sr Robert D
• Johnson Richard L

Classifications

• B65B2210/18

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

• B65B11/025 Primary

  by webs revolving around stationary articles · CPC title

• B65B57/00

  Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices (registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18) · CPC title

• B65B2210/20

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

• B65B2011/002

  Prestretching mechanism in wrapping machines · CPC title