# US 11,111,046 B2 · Load wrapping apparatus with rotational data shift > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,046 B2 - Document ID: US11111046B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/017,620 - Filed: 2018-06-25 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-25 - Assignees: Lantech.com, LLC - Applicants: Lantech.com, LLC - Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III; Michael P. Mitchell; Jeremy D. McCray; Richard L. Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111046B2 ## CPC - B65B 57/04: and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages - B65B 11/025: {by webs revolving around stationary articles} - B65B 11/045: {by rotating platforms supporting the articles} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A wrapping apparatus and method utilize a rotational data shift to a wrap speed model to offset system lag. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material, the apparatus comprising: a packaging material dispenser for dispensing packaging material to the load; a rotational drive system configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation; and a controller that controls a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based upon a wrap speed model, wherein the controller offsets system lag by applying a rotational data shift to the wrap speed model to advance the wrap speed model to an earlier point in time or rotational position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller applies the rotational data shift by shifting sensed data used by the wrap speed model. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller shifts the sensed data by shifting a rotational position of the load. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an angular sensor configured to sense the rotational position of the load relative to the packaging material dispenser about the center of rotation, wherein the controller shifts the rotational position by increasing the sensed rotational position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller determines a corner contact angle for a corner of the load, and applies the rotational shift by shifting the determined corner contact angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller shifts the determined corner contact angle by decreasing the determined corner contact angle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller determines the system lag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller determines a geometry of the load during an initial revolution of the load relative to the packaging material dispenser. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotational data shift aligns a phase of a profile of an actual dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser with that calculated using the wrap speed model. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wrap speed model is an effective circumference-based wrap speed model. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller varies an amount of the rotational data shift based upon an operating condition of the apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller varies the amount of the rotational data shift based upon a wrapping speed. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material, the apparatus comprising: a packaging material dispenser for dispensing packaging material to the load; a rotational drive system configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation; and a controller that controls a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based upon a wrap model, wherein the controller offsets system lag by applying a rotational data shift to the wrap model to advance the wrap model to an earlier point in time or rotational position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wrap model is an effective circumference-based wrap speed model. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wrap model is a wrap force model. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material, the apparatus comprising: a packaging material dispenser for dispensing packaging material to the load; a rotational drive system configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation; and a controller that controls a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based upon a predicted demand for packaging material at each of a plurality of rotational positions of the load about the center of rotation, wherein the controller further determines a corner contact angle about the center of rotation for a corner of the load and applies a rotational data shift to the corner contact angle to offset system lag, wherein the rotational data shift shifts the corner contact angle to an earlier rotational position. ### Claim 17 An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material, the apparatus comprising: a packaging material dispenser for dispensing packaging material to the load; a rotational drive system configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation; and a controller that controls a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based upon a predicted demand for packaging material at each of a plurality of rotational positions of the load about the center of rotation, wherein the controller further determines a current rotational position of the load about the center of rotation and applies a rotational data shift to the current rotational position to offset system lag, wherein the rotational data shift shifts the current rotational position to a later rotational position. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material, the apparatus comprising: a packaging material dispenser for dispensing packaging material to the load; a rotational drive system configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation; and a controller that controls a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based upon a wrap model, wherein the controller offsets system lag by applying a variable rotational data shift to the wrap model by varying the rotational data shift based at least in part upon a rate of relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller applies the variable rotational data shift further based at least in part upon a fixed component of system lag. ### Claim 20 A program product, comprising: a computer readable medium; and program code configured upon execution by a controller in an apparatus that wraps a load with packaging material using a packaging material dispenser adapted for relative rotation with the load about a center of rotation, wherein the program code is configured to control a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based upon a wrap speed model, and to offset system lag by applying a rotational data shift to the wrap speed model, wherein the program code determines a corner contact angle for a corner of the load, and applies the rotational shift by shifting the determined corner contact angle. ### Claim 21 A method of wrapping a load with packaging material, the method comprising: controlling a dispense rate of a packaging material dispenser during relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation based on a wrap speed model; and offsetting system lag by applying a rotational data shift to the wrap speed model, wherein the rotational data shift aligns a phase of a profile of an actual dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser with that calculated using the wrap speed model. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein applying the rotational data shift includes shifting sensed data used by the wrap speed model. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein shifting the sensed data includes shifting a rotational position of the load. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising sensing the rotational position of the load relative to the packaging material dispenser about the center of rotation with an angular sensor, wherein shifting the rotational position includes increasing the sensed rotational position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising determining a corner contact angle for a corner of the load, wherein applying the rotational shift includes shifting the determined corner contact angle. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein shifting the determined corner contact angle includes decreasing the determined corner contact angle. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising determining the system lag. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising determining a geometry of the load during an initial revolution of the load relative to the packaging material dispenser. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the rotational data shift advances the wrap speed model to an earlier point in time or rotational position. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the wrap speed model is an effective circumference-based wrap speed model. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising varying an amount of the rotational data shift based upon an operating condition of the apparatus. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein varying the amount of the rotational data shift includes varying the amount of the rotational data shift based upon a wrapping speed.