Method and apparatus for stretch wrapping a load

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

• a dispenser for dispensing packaging material;
• a rotatable turntable for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap packaging material around the load;
• and
• a packaging material holder mounted on the rotatable turntable, said holder being isolated from electrical and fluid power sources by the rotatable turntable for automatically grasping and releasing portions of the packaging material, the packaging material holder including a spring for building and storing energy, and for releasing the stored energy to move the packaging material holder, wherein the spring is loaded to move the packaging material holder to a reset position and wherein the spring is unloaded to move the packaging material holder to a fully extended position.

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

• a dispenser for dispensing packaging material;
• a rotatable turntable for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap packaging material around the load;
• and
• a packaging material holder mounted on the rotatable turntable, said holder being isolated from electrical and fluid power sources by the rotatable turntable for automatically grasping and releasing portions of the packaging material, the packaging material holder including jaws for grasping and releasing the packaging material, and a spring for building and storing energy through rotation of the turntable, and for releasing the stored energy, the spring moveably connected to the jaws of the packaging material holder;
• wherein the spring is loaded as the turntable rotates and the jaws move away from the packaging material dispenser.

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

• a dispenser for dispensing packaging material;
• a rotatable turntable for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap packaging material around the load;
• and
• a packaging material holder mounted on the rotatable turntable, said holder being isolated from electrical and fluid power sources by the rotatable turntable for automatically grasping and releasing portions of the packaging material, the packaging material holder including jaws for grasping and releasing the packaging material, and a spring for building and storing energy through rotation of the turntable, and for releasing the stored energy, the spring moveably connected to the jaws of the packaging material holder, wherein the spring moves the jaws of the packaging material holder toward the packaging material dispenser as it unloads to release the stored energy.

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

• a dispenser for dispensing packaging material;
• a rotatable turntable for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap packaging material around the load;
• and
• a packaging material holder mounted on the rotatable turntable, said holder being isolated from electrical and fluid power sources by the rotatable turntable for automatically grasping and releasing portions of the packaging material, the packaging material holder including means for building and storing energy through rotation of the turntable, and for releasing the stored energy to move the packaging material holder and jaws for grasping the packaging material, wherein the jaws are mounted to move downstream along a path on the turntable in response to the rotation of the turntable.

An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material comprising:

• a dispenser for dispensing packaging material;
• a rotatable turntable for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap packaging material around the load;
• and
• a packaging material holder mounted on the rotatable turntable, said holder being isolated from electrical and fluid power sources by the rotatable turntable for automatically grasping and releasing portions of the packaging material, the packaging material holder including means for building and storing energy through rotation of the turntable, and for releasing the stored energy to move the packaging material holder and jaws for grasping the packaging material, wherein the jaws are mounted to move upstream along a path on the turntable toward the packaging material dispenser in response to the release of the stored energy.

An apparatus for wrapping a load with packaging material comprising:

• a dispenser for dispensing packaging material;
• a rotatable turntable for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap packaging material around the load;
• and
• a packaging material holder mounted on the rotatable turntable, said holder being isolated from electrical and fluid power sources by the rotatable turntable for automatically grasping and releasing portions of the packaging material, the packaging material holder including means for building and storing energy, and for releasing the stored energy to move the packaging material holder, wherein the means for building and storing energy, and for releasing the stored energy uses movement of the turntable to build and store the energy.

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

• a dispenser for dispensing packaging material;
• a rotatable turntable for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap packaging material around the load;
• and
• a packaging material holder mounted on the rotatable turntable, said holder being isolated from electrical and fluid power sources by the rotatable turntable for automatically grasping and releasing portions of the packaging material, the packaging material holder including a spring for building and storing energy, and for releasing the stored energy to move the packaging material holder, wherein the movement of the turntable builds and stores energy by loading the spring.

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

• a dispenser for dispensing packaging material;
• a rotatable turntable for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap packaging material around the load;
• a packaging material holder mounted on the rotatable turntable, said holder being isolated from electrical and fluid power sources by the rotatable turntable for automatically grasping and releasing portions of the packaging material, the packaging material holder including means for building and storing energy through rotation of the turntable, and for releasing the stored energy to move the packaging material holder;
• and a packaging material holder guard for protecting the packaging material holder, the packaging material guard including a backstop positioned on the turntable between the packaging material holder and a load support surface of the turntable for supporting the load during wrapping, wherein a distal portion of the backstop intercepts the packaging material between the load and the dispenser to provide a necessary angle between the packaging material and the packaging material dispenser and a graspable tail of packaging material extending from the dispenser after the packaging material is severed.