Mima Incorporated

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Werner K Diehl

Philip G Scherer

Gale W Huson

Donald L Van Erden

Hugo Boeckmann

John P Wojcik

Roy Salzsauler

W James Farrell

Stanford Stone

A gantry film wrapping system and method useable for wrapping film about an elongated load. The system includes an overhead frame with first and second lateral support members for supporting opposing end portions of a carriage, which is reciprocatably translatable back and forth along the first and second lateral support members. A film wrapping apparatus having a rotary arm is coupled to the carriage, and a film wrapping carriage is coupled to a dependent member extending from an end portion of the rotary arm. The rotary arm and film wrapping carriage are rotatable in approximately 180 degree rotational increments between and during back and forth translations of the carriage along the first and second lateral support members of the overhead frame, wherein the film wrapping carriage is orbital in a substantially oval orbit about an elongated load disposed below the overhead frame.

Gantry film wrapping system and method for wrapping elongated loads

A method and apparatus for wrapping and securing film about a load by positioning a first arm retaining an end portion of film toward the load, wrapping a layer of film about the first arm so the first arm is between the wrapped film and the load, withdrawing the first arm retaining the film from between the wrapped film and the load, and releasing the end portion of film retained by the first arm to position and secure a first film portion between the wrapped film and the load. The load is further wrapped and a second arm is subsequently positioned toward the load, and a layer of film is wrapped about the second arm so the second arm is between the wrapped film and the load. A roped film portion is captured and retained by the first and second second arms. The roped film is then severed and an end portion of the severed film is retained by the first arm for subsequently wrapping another load. The other end of the severed roped film portion is retained by the second arm, which is withdrawn from between the wrapped film and the load to position and secure a second film portion between the wrapped film and the load. The arms are withdrawn along a relatively straight path by laterally translating the arms while pivoting thereby reducing contact between at least the portion of the arm retaining the film tail and the wrapped film.

Method and apparatus for wrapping and securing stretch film about a load

A system and method for controlling vibration of an axially rotatable mandrel useable for winding sheet material including stretch film thereabout. The system includes first, second and third roller members rotatably contactable with the mandrel and sheet material wound thereabout. The roller members are arranged about the mandrel axis so that the mandrel and any sheet material wound about the mandrel is supportably captured between the roller members to prevent or at least substantially reduce vibration of the rotatable mandrel. At least the first and second roller members are biasable toward the mandrel with pneumatic pressure from corresponding air over oil cylinders, and the first and second roller members are movable away from the mandrel against hydraulic resistance from the corresponding air over oil cylinders to accommodate sheet material wound increasingly about the mandrel. In one configuration, first and second mandrels are rotatably coupled to a rotatable turret that alternately positions the mandrels relative to a power driven lay-on roll, wherein each mandrel has at least one corresponding set of first and second roller members which cooperate with the lay-on roll to prevent vibration of the rotating mandrel.

Anti-vibration system for high speed winding of sheet material and

A novel method and system for wrapping a bale supported on a platform in a wrapping position with a bale wrapping apparatus including a rotating arm positioned above the bale, a downright member extending downwardly from an outward end portion of the rotating arm, and a wrap carriage movable up and down the downright, wherein the downright and the wrap carriage orbit the bale in the wrapping position as the rotating arm rotates to apply a film or wrap material about the bale. A bale stabilizer, positioned above the bale in the wrapping position, with a plate extendable into contact the bale stabilizes the bale during application of the wrap about the bale. An upender with laterally movable arms and pivoting paddles is positionable to engage and disengage the bale. The upender is movable to raise and lower the clamped bale from and back to the platform, and the paddles are pivotable to rotate the raised bale. The upender includes a carriage movable up and down relative to a base. Each arm is pivotally coupled to the carriage by a second pivot assembly to laterally move the paddles toward and away from each other, and each arm is pivotally coupled to the carriage by a third pivot assembly to pivot the arms between a raised position and a lowered position. The platform for supporting the bale in the wrapping position is mounted on a dolly translatable between a bale press station wherein a bale is loadable onto the platform, the wrapping position, and a conveyor station wherein the bale is unloaded from the platform.

Method and system for wrapping a bale

A method and apparatus for transferring a load to and from a load supporting platform having a first end pivotally coupled at a first end of a main frame having a support surface for supporting the platform in a substantially level position. The platform is pivotally raisable, from the support surface of the main frame to a raised position for discharging and accepting a load, either manually or by an actuatable member. A damping member interconnects the platform and the main frame wherein the damping member progressively increases resistance on the load bearing platform as the platform moves from the raised position toward the support surface of the main frame to reduce any impact on the load. The platform includes a lower frame and a cover biased away from the lower frame by a plurality of spring members wherein the cover is movable toward the lower frame by a load disposed on a support surface of the cover to actuate a load sensor, which indicates the presence of the load. A first pair of motor driven wheels is coupled to the first end of the main frame to drive the apparatus along an operating surface, and a second pair of wheels is coupled to opposite sides of a pivoting member to compensate for unevenness in the operating surface.

Method and apparatus for transferring a load

An apparatus is useful for wrapping a wrapping film over an elongate load, which has a generally cylindrical exterior and two generally circular or generally annular ends. Two blocker rollers cradle the load with its axis extending horizontally and are arranged for rotating the load about the load axis. A dispenser mounts a roll of the wrapping film with its axis extending vertically. The dispenser is mounted on a rotatable arm, which is rotatable about a vertical axis. A carriage is provided for mounting the dispenser and for carrying the dispenser and the roll back and forth along the cradled load. Thus, the roll is moved along an oblong path, whereby the film pulled from the roll is wrapped over the near side of the load, one end of the load, the far side of the load, and the other end of the load, as the load is rotated. The roll remains at an elevation above a central portion of the load so as to permit the central portion to remain unwrapped.

Method and apparatus for wrapping elongate load having generally

A method and apparatus are disclosed for wrapping a load conforming generally to a rectangular solid, such as a cotton bale. Lengths of wrapping film from two rolls are welded to form a predraped wall of such film, into which the load is conveyed to cover its front face and its lateral faces, whereupon the welded lengths are welded again behind the bale and are severed from such rolls. As the load is conveyed, a length of wrapping film from a third roll is wrapped in a spiral pattern so as to cover the upper, lower, and lateral faces of the load. Moreover, generally V-shaped perforations pointing toward the front face are formed in the lateral faces, by means of perforating mechanisms. Each mechanism comprises a pivotal arm biased toward the load, a wheel rotatable on the arm, and perforating cutters extending radially from the wheel, in two circumferential arrays.

Method for wrapping elongate load with wrapping film, apparatus

An apparatus for placing corner protectors having elongate panels meeting at right angles onto vertical corners of pallet loads having vertical sides defining vertical corner comprises a magazine to hold a supply of the corner protectors and mechanisms for removing one corner protector from the magazine, transferring the corner protector to a position where one of its panels is disposed in close proximity to a vertical side of such a load, and displacing the corner protector until its other panel engages another side at the same corner of the load. In the magazine, the corner protectors extend vertically and are nested within one another. Also, the corner protectors are guided forwardly along a supporting chute. A wheeled carriage having an upright member is mounted operatively in the chute and prevents the corner protectors from tipping backwards.

Apparatus for placing corner protectors onto palletized loads

Apparatus for wrapping a pallet load with a wrapping film applied selectively as a film rope or as a film sheet. The load is supported in an elevated position. A rotary arm supported above the load is arranged to be rotatably driven. An upright member depending from the rotary arm is spaced outwardly from the load in any rotary arm position. A carriage is arranged to be upwardly and downwardly driven along such member. A dispenser on the carriage dispenses the wrapper as a rope or as a sheet. A guide, which comprises a lever and a hook on the lever, is moveable among extended, partly retracted, and fully retracted positions. In the extended position, the guide guides the rope across the respective corners of the load. In the partly retracted position, the guide does not interfere with driving the carriage along the upright member.

Wrapping apparatus and related wrapping methods

A heat seal assembly and method for securing stretch-film wrapped about a package, which assembly grasps and aligns two strips of roped film wraps, heats adjacent faces of the roped film sections and thereafter compresses these heated faces to weld them to each other and secure the film wrap about the package.

Film-tail heat sealing system

A tool mounting assembly for a gear hobbing machine is disclosed as being mounted between a drive spindle and an outboard bearing support in axial alignment with said drive spindle. The tool mounting assembly comprises a first coupling unit for detachably connecting one end of a hob in driving engagement with said drive spindle, and a second coupling unit for detachably connecting the other end of said hob to said outboard bearing support. The outboard support unit includes a plunger rotatably mounted in the bearing support and axially movable between a hob coupling position and an unload position, and has a drive means for selectively moving the plunger between said hob coupling and unload positions. The second coupling unit includes a first portion secured to the other end of said hob and a second portion secured to said plunger, and includes axial nesting means for self centering the other end of the hob. The outboard support unit includes a plunger drive means for positioning said plunger at the hob coupling position with sufficient end thrust to maintain the hob concentric with the axis of the drive spindle and to hold the first and second portions of first coupling unit in rigid driving relationship.

Growing community of inventors

Parkland, FL, United States of America

Werner K Diehl