Machine for wrapping a load with a device for pleating a width of film

#The invention relates to machines for wrapping loads intended to wind, or, as those skilled in the art would say, to “banderoll”, a width of wrapping film, generally made of polyethylene, around these loads, from the bottom to the top, to protect them from dust and running moisture. These loads are generally placed on pallets.

#Wrapping is performed either by rotating on a platform the load which pulls the width of film off a feed reel, being rolled up inside it, or by rotating an arm which pulls the width off the reel to wind it around the load. In any event, at the end of the wrapping cycle, the width has to be cut and welded at the bottom of the load using a cutting and welding gripper device.

#As there may be a desire to wrap loads of different heights, the cutting and welding device with which wrapping machines are generally equipped is designed for minimal load height, and is therefore relatively short and often shorter than the breadth of the width of wrapping film on the feed reels. This is why wrapping machines are often also equipped with a so-called pleating device for adapting and reducing the breadth of the wrapping film upstream of the cutting and welding device, in the direction in which the width of film travels.

#The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of the preferred embodiment of the machine of the invention with reference to the appended drawing in which:

#FIG. 1 is a view in perspective from above of the pleating device of the machine,

#FIG. 2 is a simplified view from above of the device of FIG. 1,

#The machine comprises a stand 1 carrying a feed reel 2 of a width of wrapping film, a platform 3 carrying a pallet supporting a load that is to be wrapped and, shown in this instance as being able to rotate about itself to wind the width of film around the load and its pallet, and near to the platform 3, a device 4 for cutting and welding the width, which will be described only briefly because the invention does not concern it.

#Beside the reel 2 is mounted, on the stand 1, a device 5 for pre-stretching and pleating the width of film for, by pleating, reducing the breadth of the width to the dimensions of the elements of the cutting and welding device 4.

#The width of film 6 has an initial breadth equal to the separation of its two, top 7 and bottom 8, lateral edges. Under the action of the rotation of the load-support platform, the width of film 6 is unwound from the reel 2, passes, in the conventional way, through a gang 9 of pre-stretching and turn rolls of the device 5, these having axes parallel to that of the reel 2 and being protected by a casing 10, before being pleated by the distancing bar 11 of the pre-stretching and pleating device constituting the pleating part of the device 5, also termed the pleating device.