Method and apparatus for securing a load to a pallet with a roped film web
AssigneeLantech.com, LLC
InventorsPatrick R. Lancaster, III, Donnie Norris, David Eldridge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for wrapping a palletized load are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a film dispenser for dispensing a film web, at least one guide rollers configured to engage the width of the film web, and at least one roping element. The at least one roping element may be a cable rolling roper configured to roll a portion of the film web into a rolled cable of film. The apparatus may also include means for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser to wrap a roped portion of the film web around a base of the load/top portion of a pallet supporting the load.
Claims30
A method for wrapping a load with a film web during a wrapping cycle, comprising:
- dispensing a film web from a film dispenser;
- providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser during the wrapping cycle to wrap the film web around the load;
- and
- during a first portion of the wrapping cycle, driving at least a portion of the film web from a first elevation to a second elevation lower than the first elevation through rotation of at least one of an upstream guide roller and a downstream guide roller;
- during a second portion of the wrapping cycle, moving at least one of the upstream and downstream guide rollers from a film drive down configuration to a non-drive down configuration;
- and
- during at least one of the first and second portions of the wrapping cycle, rolling a portion of the film web into a cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.