Load Stability-Based Wrapping

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• program code configured upon execution by the processor to control a load wrapping apparatus of the type configured to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support by:
• maintaining a mapping of load containment forces to corresponding wrap forces and numbers of layers of packaging material;
• receiving input data associated with a load containment force requirement to be used when wrapping the load with packaging material;
• accessing the mapping based upon the input data to determine a corresponding wrap force parameter and a corresponding layer parameter for the load containment force requirement;
• and
• controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based on the determined corresponding wrap force and layer parameters for the load containment force requirement.

A program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• program code stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and configured to control a load wrapping apparatus of the type configured to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, wherein the program code is configured to control the load wrapping apparatus by:
• maintaining a mapping of load containment forces to corresponding wrap forces and numbers of layers of packaging material;
• receiving input data associated with a load containment force requirement to be used when wrapping the load with packaging material;
• accessing the mapping based upon the input data to determine a corresponding wrap force parameter and a corresponding layer parameter for the load containment force requirement;
• and
• controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based on the determined corresponding wrap force and layer parameters for the load containment force requirement.

A method of setting up a wrap profile prior to wrapping a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:

• causing a plurality of controls to be displayed on an operator display, each of the plurality of controls associated with a different load stability type that categorizes the load based upon a relative stability of the load;
• determining a load containment force requirement to be used when wrapping the load with packaging material in response to operator selection of one of the plurality of controls;
• determining a corresponding wrap force parameter and a corresponding layer parameter for the load containment force requirement;
• and
• storing the corresponding wrap force and layer parameters in a wrap profile for use in controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation.

A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type configured to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:

• receiving input data for an indirect control parameter associated with a load containment force requirement to be used when wrapping the load with packaging material;
• accessing a mapping of load containment forces to corresponding wrap forces and numbers of layers of packaging material based at least in part upon the indirect control parameter to determine a corresponding wrap force and a corresponding number of layers of packaging material for the load containment force requirement;
• and
• controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based on the determined corresponding wrap force and number of layers of packaging material for the load containment force requirement.

A method of controlling a load wrapping apparatus of the type configured to wrap a load on a load support with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load support, the method comprising:

• receiving non-force input data associated with a load containment force requirement to be used when wrapping the load with packaging material;
• accessing a mapping of load containment forces to corresponding wrap forces and numbers of layers of packaging material based upon the non-force input data to determine a corresponding wrap force and a corresponding number of layers of packaging material for the load containment force requirement;
• and
• controlling a dispense rate of the packaging material dispenser during the relative rotation based on the determined corresponding wrap force and number of layers of packaging material for the load containment force requirement.