Method and apparatus for stretch wrapping the top and sides of a load

A method of stretch wrapping the sides and top of a load, comprising the steps of:

• dispensing a web from a web dispenser, stretching the web along the dispensing direction, and wrapping the web around the sides of the load by rotating the load relative to the web dispenser while maintaining the web dispenser and web being dispensed in an orientation generally parallel to said sides of the load;
• covering the top of the load with the web by rotating the load relative to the web dispenser and repeatedly performing the steps of raising the web dispenser above the load, positioning the web dispenser and web being dispensed in an orientation generally parallel to the top of the load, dispensing the web to cover a portion of the top of the load with the web, and lowering the web dispenser relative to the load and positioning the web dispenser and web being dispensed in the orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load to catch the web on the sides of the load, to sequentially cover portions of the top of the load until the top of the load is covered;
• and
• accumulating web in the web dispenser from a web supply when the web dispenser is in the orientation generally parallel to said sides of the load and releasing the accumulated web from the web dispenser without receiving web in the web dispenser from the web supply when the web dispenser is in an orientation other than the orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load.

An apparatus for stretch wrapping the sides and top of a load, comprising:

• a web dispenser for dispensing and stretching a web along the dispensing direction;
• means for rotating the load relative to the web dispenser;
• means for positioning the web dispenser and alternating the position of the web dispenser and the web being dispensed between an orientation generally parallel to said sides of the load in a lowered position for wrapping the sides of the load and an orientation generally parallel to said top of the load in a raised position for covering the top of the load;
• control system for repeatedly raising the web dispenser above the load, dispensing the web to cover a portion of the top of the load with the web, and lowering the web dispenser relative to the load to catch the web on the sides of the load, to sequentially cover portions of the top of the load until the top of the load is covered;
• and
• wherein the web dispenser includes an accumulator for accumulating web in the web dispenser from a web supply when the web dispenser is in the orientation generally parallel to said sides of the load, and for releasing the accumulated web from the web dispenser without receiving web in the web dispenser from the web supply when the web dispenser is in an orientation other than the orientation generally parallel to the sides of the load.