Method and apparatus for stretch wrapping a load, including a top platen
AssigneesLantech Management Corp., Lantech Holding Corp.
InventorSteven E. DeGrasse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Loads on pallets are often wrapped with a plastic film for shipping. The present invention relates to top platen devices used to maintain stability in loads while the load is wrapped for shipping. The top platen device applies a compressive force to the load to stabilize the load while it is being wrapped. The top platen includes a shaft supporting platen pad which is placed on top of the load. The shaft and platen pad are configured to rotate eccentrically with respect to the geometric center of the top platen in order to rotate with the load about the load's center of rotation.
Claims31
An apparatus for wrapping a load with stretch wrap packaging material, comprising:
- a dispenser for dispensing stretch wrap material;
- means for providing relative rotation between the dispenser and a load, the load having a center of rotation;
- and
- a top platen having a rotational geometric center, the top platen configured to apply a compressive force to the load and including a shaft and a platen pad attached to the shaft, the pad being configured to contact and transmit a compressive force to the load;
- wherein, when the platen pad is on top of the load and the geometric center of the top platen is not aligned with the load center of rotation, the platen pad and shaft are configured to rotate eccentrically with respect to the geometric center of the top platen in order to rotate about the load center of rotation.
A method for wrapping a load with stretch wrap packaging material, comprising:
- dispensing stretch wrap packaging material from a packaging material dispenser;
- providing relative rotation between the dispenser and the load to wrap the stretch wrap packaging material around the load, wherein the load has center of rotation;
- placing a portion of a top platen on the top of the load, wherein the top platen includes a rotational geometric center which is not aligned with the load center of rotation;
- and
- rotating the portion of the top platen on the top of the load with the load around the load center of rotation and eccentrically relative the geometric center of the top platen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.