Method and apparatus for wrapping objects with a sealable wrap

Object wrapping apparatus for placing a continuous wrap around an object with the wrap being fed from two supplies and joined in front and behind the object comprising:

• a conveyor for carrying an object past a wrapping station,
• an upper wrap supply,
• a lower wrap supply,
• each wrap supply having a roll of sealable wrap, and a wrap accumulator,
• means for engaging the two wraps to seal the wraps together on the conveyor, to form a web in the path of the oncoming object and close to the rear of the previously passed object,
• said accumulators each including a storage bin having infeed and discharge ends and including means for gathering the wrap in folds and holding the folds at the discharge ends of each bin until released, and means for releasing the wrap at the discharge ends at a predetermined time to allow the wrap to be pulled freely without restriction between the discharge ends and the conveyor by the object and the sealing means.

Object wrapping apparatus for placing a continuous wrap around an object with the wrap being fed from two supplies and joined in front and behind the object comprising:

• a conveyor for carrying an object past a wrapping station,
• an upper wrap supply,
• a lower wrap supply,
• each wrap supply having a roll of sealable wrap, and a wrap accumulator,
• means for engaging the two wraps to seal the wraps together on the conveyor, to form a web in the path of the oncoming object and close to the rear of the previously passed object,
• said accumulators including means for gathering the wrap in folds and holding the folds until released, and means for releasing the folds at a predetermined time to allow the object and the sealing means to freely pull the web out of the accumulators,
• said accumulators each including a storage bin having infeed and discharge ends, said wrap folds gathering and holding means including feeding means for pushing the wrap into folds in the accumulator, and sensor means for determining when the bin is full for discontinuing said feeding means,
• said releasing means including a gate movable into an opened position at the discharge end of the bin to allow the wrap folds to freely be pulled out of the storage bin.

The method of delivering two sealable lengths of wrap to a wrapping station to form a web and be wrapped around an object moving along a horizontal path, comprising:

• storing the wraps at a storage station on opposite sides of the path, holding the wraps against movement at the storage station,
• joining the wraps at a sealing and cutting location,
• moving the object into engagement with the web to pull the web along the path,
• releasing the held, stored wrap at the storage station and providing a free unrestricted path between the storage station and the object as the object pulls the web to eliminate resistance to movement of the web as the object pulls the web,
• cutting the web behind the object and sealing the wraps to form a new web behind the object at a cutting and sealing station, and
• tightening and retracting the new web across the path rearwardly from the sealing and cutting station.

The method of delivering two sealable lengths of wrap to a wrapping station to form a web and be wrapped around an object moving along a horizontal path, comprising:

• storing the wraps on opposite sides of the path,
• joining the wraps at a sealing and cutting location,
• moving the object into engagement with the web to pull the web along the path,
• releasing the stored wrap as the object pulls the web,
• cutting the web behind the object and sealing the wraps to form a new web behind the object at a cutting and sealing station, and
• tightening and retracting the new web across the path rearwardly from the sealing and cutting station,
• said step of storing the wraps including folding the wraps in accordian fashion,
• said lengths of wrap each being movable along a separate run intersecting at said cutting and sealing station, said step of tightening the new web including blowing the wrap out of a run to pull the wrap back from said cutting and sealing station.