Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Mima Incorporated

David J Kallner

Joseph Alvarez

A label film applicator mechanism which is integrally incorporated into the overall stretch wrap film applicator system so as to be located at the same wrapping station as that of the stretch wrap film mechanism whereby the stretch wrap film can be applied to or wrapped upon, for example, the palletized load independent of the label film, however, the stretch wrap film and the label film can also be simultaneously applied to or wrapped upon, for example, the palletized load when it is desired to apply a label film to, for example, the palletized load during a predetermined portion of the stretch wrap film load wrapping cycle.

Automatic label film applicator

A rotary heat sealer and method therefor useable for thermally sealing overlapping film layers wrapped about a load at a load wrapping station. The rotary heat sealer includes a plurality of heat sealing disks each having a peripherally disposed heating element, and a rotatable shaft disposed through a central opening of the plurality of heat sealing disks, wherein the heat sealing disks are resiliently coupled to the rotatable shaft by spring members so that the heat sealing disks are rotatable with the shaft and the heat sealing disks are independently movable transversely relative to the rotatable shaft axis. The rotary heat sealer is movable toward the load to engage the heating elements thereof with overlapping film layers wrapped about the load to thermally seal an overlapping film tail to underlying film layers, whereby the transversely movable heat sealing disks compensate for variations in the shape of the load, thereby providing improved welding of overlapping film layers.

Rotary heat sealer and method therefor

An apparatus and a related method are disclosed for cutting a sheet from flexible film wound on a roll and for placing the sheet on a pallet or on a layer of one or more boxes on the pallet. The roll is mounted so that it is rotatable about an axis parallel to one end of the pallet. A leading end of the film is gripped. The gripped end is pulled away from the roll. As the roll is thus rotated, a portion of the film is unwound from the roll. Also, at least a substantial part of the unwound portion is extended over the pallet or over a layer of boxes on the pallet. The unwound portion at a position is clamped between the pallet and the roll. The clamped portion is cut so as to cut a sheet having a predetermined length from the remaining film. The gripped end is released after the sheet has been cut therefrom so as to permit the sheet to drop onto the pallet or onto a layer of one or more boxes or other articles on the pallet. The gripped end may be lowered toward the pallet before the gripped end is released. A related package employing film sheets interposed respectively between the pallet and the lowermost layer of boxes or articles and between the respective layers of boxes or articles and employing a film sheet wrapping the pallet and the stacked layers of boxes or articles in a spiral pattern enveloping draped portions of the interposed sheets is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Coral Springs, FL, United States of America

David J Kallner