Stretch Wrapping Machine with Automatic Load Profiling

An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material, the apparatus comprising:

• a packaging material dispenser configured to dispense packaging material to the load;
• a drive mechanism configured to provide relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load about an axis of rotation;
• and
• a controller configured to control the packaging material dispenser and the drive mechanism to wrap the load by:
• sensing a plurality of points on a plurality of surfaces of the load using one or more sensors directed at the load;
• generating a surface model of at least a portion of the load based upon the sensed plurality of points;
• and
• controlling one or more control parameters for the load wrapping apparatus when wrapping the load based upon the generated surface model.

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 with packaging material dispensed from a packaging material dispenser through relative rotation between the packaging material dispenser and the load, wherein the program code is configured to control the load wrapping apparatus by:
• sensing a plurality of points on a plurality of surfaces of the load using one or more sensors directed at the load;
• generating a surface model of at least a portion of the load based upon the sensed plurality of points;
• and
• controlling one or more control parameters for the load wrapping apparatus when wrapping the load based upon the generated surface model.