Containment force apparatus for measuring containment force on a load

A containment force apparatus for measuring containment force on a load, the apparatus comprising:

• a body defining a housing;
• a contact arm coupled to the housing and configured to contact the load;
• an engaging arm extending from the housing for insertion between the packaging material and the load, the engaging arm configured to move at least a portion of the packaging material from a first position at the load to a second position;
• an actuator electrically powered, mounted between the contact arm and the housing, and configured to urge the contact arm to move away from the housing and in turn move the engaging arm between the first position and the second position;
• and
• a force sensor electrically connected to the actuator and configured to measure a force exerted on one of the contact arm or the engaging arm resulting from the movement of the packaging material between the first position and the second position.

A method for measuring containment force exerted on a load by a packaging material using a containment force apparatus having a housing, an actuator, and an engaging arm, the method comprising:

• engaging the packaging material with the engaging arm disposed in a first position;
• contacting the load with a contact arm;
• actuating the actuator with a trigger electrically connected to the actuator to urge the contact arm away from the housing;
• moving the engaging arm into a second position;
• moving the packaging material a measured distance;
• and
• measuring the containment force exerted on the packaging material associated with the measured distance.