Back to results
US 11,794,933 B2Granted
Stretch wrapping machine with packaging material tail treatment
AssigneeLantech.com, LLC
InventorsPatrick R. Lancaster, III, Jean-Louis Limousin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims35
An apparatus for wrapping a load, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotating arm configured to rotate about a center of rotation;
- a packaging material dispenser supported on the rotating arm and configured to dispense a web of packaging material to the load, the packaging material dispenser spaced from the center of rotation to define a zone of rotation about the center of rotation within which the packaging material dispenser rotates;
- a rotational drive configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about the center of rotation by rotating the rotating arm about the center of rotation;
- a cutting assembly configured to sever the web of packaging material to form a packaging material tail extending from a corner of the load;
- and
- a flow device configured to direct a flow of fluid from a position separated from the center of rotation and outside of the zone of rotation defined by the packaging material dispenser and towards the packaging material tail from a position generally upstream of a free end of the packaging material tail and at an acute angle relative to the side of the load while the free end of the packaging material tail is unsupported to cause the packaging material tail to come into contact with the side of the load, wherein the flow of fluid has a rate that is greater than or equal to 9 miles per hour.
3 more elements
An apparatus for wrapping a load, the apparatus comprising:
- a packaging material dispenser configured to dispense a web of packaging material to the load;
- a rotational drive configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation;
- a cutting assembly configured to sever the web of packaging material to form a packaging material tail extending from a corner of the load;
- and
- a flow device configured to direct a flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail from a position generally upstream of a free end of the packaging material tail and at an acute angle relative to the side of the load while the free end of the packaging material tail is unsupported to cause the packaging material tail to come into contact with the side of the load;
- wherein the flow device includes one or more nozzles coupled to a source of pressurized fluid;
- and
- 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 the packaging material dispenser to rotate between a substantially horizontal storage position and a substantially vertical operating position.
5 more elements
An apparatus for wrapping a load, the apparatus comprising:
- a packaging material dispenser configured to dispense a web of packaging material to the load;
- a rotational drive configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation;
- a cutting assembly configured to sever the web of packaging material to form a packaging material tail extending from a corner of the load;
- and
- a flow device configured to direct a flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail from a position generally upstream of a free end of the packaging material tail and at an acute angle relative to the side of the load while the free end of the packaging material tail is unsupported to cause the packaging material tail to come into contact with the side of the load;
- wherein the flow device includes one or more nozzles coupled to a source of pressurized fluid;
- and
- wherein the one or more nozzles are supported by the packaging material dispenser.
5 more elements
An apparatus for wrapping a load, the apparatus comprising:
- a packaging material dispenser configured to dispense a web of packaging material to the load;
- a rotational drive configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation;
- a cutting assembly configured to sever the web of packaging material to form a packaging material tail extending from a corner of the load;
- and
- a flow device configured to direct a flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail from a position generally upstream of a free end of the packaging material tail and at an acute angle relative to the side of the load while the free end of the packaging material tail is unsupported to cause the packaging material tail to come into contact with the side of the load;
- wherein the flow device is a first flow device, the flow of fluid is a first flow of fluid, the position is a first position and the acute angle is a first angle, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second flow device configured to direct a second flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail from a second position and at a second angle relative to the side of the load that is larger than the first angle to increase adherence of the packaging material tail to the side of the load.
3 more elements
An apparatus for wrapping a load, the apparatus comprising:
- a packaging material dispenser configured to dispense a web of packaging material to the load;
- a rotational drive configured to generate relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about a center of rotation;
- a cutting assembly configured to sever the web of packaging material to form a packaging material tail extending from a corner of the load;
- and
- a flow device configured to direct a flow of fluid towards the packaging material tail from a position generally upstream of a free end of the packaging material tail and at an acute angle relative to the side of the load while the free end of the packaging material tail is unsupported to cause the packaging material tail to come into contact with the side of the load, wherein at least a portion of the flow device is supported by a support assembly that is at least partially inside of a zone of rotation for the packaging material dispenser to move between a storage position and an operating position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.