Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POSITIONING APPARATUS FOR CARRIAGE ON A SUPPORT COLUMN
Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of
packaging and is particularly directed to apparatus for wrapping
an object within a thin film for enclosing it and protecting the
object such as during shipment or storage.
Background of the Invention
For shipment or storage, packages are frequently
wrapped with a plastic film material so as to provide a strong
and protective layer about the package. By "package" is meant
here any object or article, or collection of objects or
articles, which are to be wrapped ~uch as for shipment or
storage. One common approach is to position the package on a
rotating platform and dispense the plastic film in engagement
with the package as the package is rotated. The plastic film
dispenser may be either hand-held or attached to the package
wrapping apparatus.
Referring to FIGs. la and lb, there are
respectively shown partially cutaway and partially in
phantom top plan and side elevation views of a typical
prior art package wrapping apparatus 100. The wrapping
apparatus 100 includes a rotating deck 102 which is disposed
upon and supported by a plurality of rollers 104a-104d. The
package to be wrapped is disposed on the rotating deck 102
which may also support a pallet on which the package is
disposed for ease of handling the package. Each of these
support rollers 104a-104d is attached to and supported by a
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respective bracket 106a-106d. A center, lower portion of the
rotating dec~ 102 is positioned on and sup~orted hy a combina~ion
of a support shaft 112, bearings 116 and a race 114. The
combination of rollers 104a-104d and bearings 116 allow for the
free rotation of deck 102 about a generally vertical axis through
shaft 112. A rotary drive arrangement 108 such as including an
electric motor is typically coupled to the support shaft 112 by
means of sprockets or pulleys and a chain, belt, or ot~er
suitable linkage 110.
One disadvantage of the prior art package wrapping
apparatus 100 is that the tension of the wrappinq material is
difficult to control and thus the tightness of the wrap a~out the
package is generally nonuniform. In addition, the rotational
drive arrangement does not provide positive control over the
rotatin~ pac~age thus neces~itating the use of a brake m~Ch~i
to slow down and stop the rotating deck and package combination.
Finally, the rollers 104a-104d disposed about and engaging a
lower portion of the rotating deck 102 must be precisely aligned
relative to one another as well as to the deck and substantially
increase the cost and complexity of the wrapping apparatus.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned
limitations of the prior art by providing a package wrapping
apparatus which provides a direct drive for a rotating deck
supporting the packaqe which simplifies the apparatus and
provides improved control of the rotating pac~aqe and deck. The
apparatus includes a film wrap dispenser which may be adjusted
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vertically to permit the entire package tO be wrapped by a narrow
roll of film wrap, and further includes a manually adjustable
tensioner which allows for adjusting the stretch of the film wrap
about the package.
Obiects and Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
to provide apparatus for wrapping an object such as disposed on a
pallet with a thin film of wrapping material for shipment or
storage.
It is another object of the present invention to permit
a single worker to safely and quickly wrap a package tightly and
securely in a thin film using a roll of thin film wrapping
material.
Yet another object of the present invention is to
provide pallet wrapping apparatus which is of simple
construction, capable of operation by a single worker, and
economical to operate and maintain.
Apparatus for wrapping a package in a thin film, said
apparatus comprising: a base; a generally flat deck disposed on
the base for supporting the package; a motor and transmission
combination mounted to the base and directly coupled to a lower,
center portion of the deck for rotationally displacing the deck
and a package thereon about a generally vertical axis; a wrapping
fil~ roll dispenser; a moveable carriage coupled to the base for
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supporting and allowing for vertical displacement of said film
dispenser as the film is wrapped around a rotating package
disposed on the deck to permit the film to be wrapped around the
entire package.
Brief Descri~tion of the Drawinas
The appended claims set forth those novel features
which characterize the invention. However, the invention itself,
as well as further objects and advantages thereof, will best be
understood by reference to the following detailed description of
a preferred emhoAimPnt taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, where like reference characters identify like elements
throughout the various figures, in which:
FIGs. la and lb are respectively top plan and side
elevation views shown partially in phantom and partially cutaway
of a prior art package wrapping apparatus of the rotating type;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a package wrapping
apparatus in accordance with the present invention showing a
collection of objects disposed on a pallet for wrapping in a thin
film wrap;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the package
wrapping apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side elevation view shown
partially in phantom of the rotational drive arrangement for the
package supporting deck in the package wrapping apparatus of the
present invention;
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FIG. 5 ls a partially cut away partial top plan view of
the pac~age wrappin~ apparatus of the present invention shown
partially in phantom illustrating additional details of the
rotational drive arrangement; and
FIGs. 6a and 6b are perspective views of a film wrap
height positioner for use in the package wrapping apparatus of
the present invention respectively illustrating the film wrap
height positioner in the unloc~ed and loc~ed positions.
Detailed DescriDtion of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view
of a pac~age wrapping apparatus 10 in accordance with the
principles of the present in~ention. FIG. 3 is an exploded
perspectiYe view of the package wrapping apparatus 10 shown in
FIG. 2.
Pac~age wrapping apparatus 10 includes a base 12
adapted for positioning on a flat support surface and further
includes a rotating deck 14 adapted to receive and support a
pac~age 32. In FIG. 2, pac~age 32 is shown disposed on a pallet
34 for ease of handling such as by means of a for~lift.
Attached to the base 12 and also disposed on the
support surface is a base extension 16. Conventional coupling
means such as nut and bolt combinations 19 such as shown in FIG.
5 may be used to connect base 12 with base extension 16.
Attached to an upper surface of the base extension 16 by
conventional means such as nut and bolt combinations (which are
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no~ shown for simplicity) is a vertical support column 18. A
mounting bracke~ 21 disposed on the lower end of the support
column 18 facilitates attaching the support column to the base
extension 16. Disposed on the vertical support column 18 is the
combination of a film wrap supply and tensioner 22 and a film
wrap height positioner 30 which are described in detail below.
With reference to FIGs. 2 and 3, as well as to FIGs. 4
and 5 which are respectively partially cutaway side elevation and
top plan views of the rotating package positioning and ~u~u~L
portion of the package wrapping apparatus 10, the drive
arrangement for rotationally displacing the package 32 disposed
on the rotating deck 14 will now be described. Fixedly mounted
to an upper surface of base 12 is the combination of an electric
motor 50 and a gear box 42. Electric motor 50 and gear box 42
are coupled by means of the combination of first and second
pulleys 44 and 52 and an endless dri~e belt 46. Rotation of the
ouL~uL shaft of motor 50 causes a corresponding rotation of an
input shaft 71 of gear box 42. A cover 48 is disposed over the
pulley and endless drive belt combination. Disposed on input
shaft 71 is a threaded portion 75 which is positioned so as to
engage the teeth of a sprocket 77 so as to form a worm gear
within gear ~ox 42. Inserted through and fixedly attached to
sprocket 77 is a generally vertically oriented output shaft 73.
The upper end of output shaft 73 is coupled to a mounting bracket
80 which, in turn, is securely attached to a lower surface of the
rotating deck 14. Upper and lower bearings 58a and 58b and
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suitable inne_ and outer races permit free rotation of the OUtpUt
shaft 73 and deck 14 about a generally vertically axis extending
through the center of the output shaft. Directly connecting the
rotating dec~ 14 to and supporting the rotating dec~ by means of
the rotational drive unit including motor 50 and gear box 42
eliminates the outer rollers required in the prior art to support
the rotating deck and allows for improved control over
displacement of the deck, particularly in eliminating the need
for a braking mechanism for bringing the rotating deck to a stop.
The electric motor 50 used in the present invention may
be of conventional design and operation and is thus provided with
an electrical lead 38 for connecting to a source of electrical
power. A foot switch 36 is coupled to the electrical lead 38 for
applying electrical power to and removing power from motor 50 in
starting and stopping rotation of the rotating deck 14 and
package 32 disposed thereon. Use of foot switch 36 frees the
hands of an operator of the package wrapping apparatus 10 to
perform other operations such as stabilizing the package on the
rotating deck 14 or manipulating the film wrap as it is unrolled
onto the package.
Referring to FIGs. 3 and 6a, 6b, the configuration and
operation of the film wrap height positioner 30 and tensioner 22
will now be described. The film wrap height positioner 30
includes a film wrap carriage 60 disposed on the vertical support
column 18. Disposed on one surface of the vertical support
column 18 is a gear rack 76. Disposed on the film wrap carriage
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60 is the comDination of a crank 62, a torsion spring 64, a
coupler 66, a sprocket 68, and a rotatable shaft 70. Shaft 70
extends between facing lateral portions of the film wrap carriage
60, with bushings and spacers 72 and a spur gear 72a disposed on
shaft 70 between the facing lateral portions of the film wrap
carriage 60. The spring-loaded crank 62 is coupled to shaft 70
by means of coupler 66. Rotation of crank 62 causes a
corresponding rotation of shaft 70 and spur gear 72a. Thus, when
crank 62 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 6a, the film wrap
carriage 60 will be displaced upwardly along the vertical ~u~olL
column 18 because of the engagement of the rotating spur gear 72a
with gear rack 76. Similarly, the rotation of crank 62 in a
counter clockwise direction will result in a lowering of the film
wrap carriage 60 along the vertical support column 18.
Sprocket 68 is fixedly attached to the film wrap
carriage 60 by means of one or more coupling bolts 69. ExtPn~ing
from a proximal end of crank 62 is a lock pin 78. Crank 62 is
free to pivot about a pivot pin 79 inserted through a distal end
portion of coupler 66. With crank 62 displaced inwardly toward
the film wrap carriage 60 as shown in FIG. 6a, lock pin 78 is
displaced away from sprocket 68 and the combination of crank 62
and spur gear 72a is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis
of shaft 70 to allow for displacement of the film wrap carriage
70 along vertical support column 18. When crank 62 is pivotally
displaced outwardly about pivot pin 79 as shown in FIG. 6b, the
distal end of lock pin 78 is inserted between adjacent teeth
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within sprocket 68 to prevent rotation of the combination of
crank 62, shaft 70 and spur gear 72a to prevent displacement of
the film wrap carriage 60 on the vertical support column 18.
Torsion spring 64 disposed about pivot pin 79 and engaging crank
62 urges the crank outwardly from the film wrap carriage 60 as
shown in FIG. 6b to maintain lock pin 78 in engagement with
sprocket 68. In this manner, the film wrap carriage 60 is
maintained in the locked position to prevent movement of the
film wrap carriage on the vertical support column 18 until crank
62 is urged inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 6a by
overcoming the force of torsion spring 64. When crank 62 is
displaced inwardly as shown in FIG. 6a, crank 62 may be
rotationally displaced for moving the film wrap carriage 60
either up or down along the vertical support column 18.
Polyethylene contact buttons 82a and 82b comprised of an ultra-
high molecular weight material are inserted through the film
wrap carriage 60 and engage opposing lateral surfaces of the
vertical support column 18 to facilitate sliding displacement of
the film wrap carriage along the vertical support column. A
removable cover 74 is attached to the film wrap carriage 60 for
covering the spur gear 72 as it engages gear rack 76 for safety
reasons.
Attached to and extending from the film wrap carriage
60 is a support bracket 20. Support bracket 20 is securely
coupled to the film wrap carriage 60 by conventional means such
as weldments. Attached to a distal end of support bracket 20 is
a film wrap supply and tensioner mechanism 22. The supply and
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tensioner mechanism 22 is adapted to support a film wrap roll 26
and includes upper and lower washers 28a and 28b and a roll
support shaft 24 inserted through the film wrap roll. Support
shaft 24 is also inserted through upper and lower washers 28a,
28b which are disposed on respective upper and lower ends of the
film wrap roll 26. Disposed on the upper end of the support
shaft 24 is a tension control knob 40 which allows for rotational
displacement of the support shaft for adjusting the tension
applied to the film wrap roll 26. In this manner, the extent to
which the film wrap removed from roll 26 is stretched as it is
wrapped around a rotating pac~age may be precisely controlled by
either tightening or loosening the roll support shaft 24.
There has thus been shown apparatus for wrapping a
package disposed on a rotating platform. The platform is rotated
by means of a direct dri~e arrangement including an electric
motor and gear box which is coupled directly to and provides
support for the rotating platform. The electric motor and gear
box combination is mounted to a fixed base. Also coupled to the
fixed base is a generally vertical support column to which is
mounted a film wrap carriage with height adjustment and a film
wrap supply and tensioner mpch~nism. The film wrap supply and
tensioner mpch~nism includes a roll of film wrap which is wrapped
around the package on the platform as the platform and package
combination is rotationally displaced. The extent of stretch of
the film, or the tension applied to the film as it is removed
from the film wrap supply, may be easily and precisely adjusted
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over a wide range of values. The height of the film wrap
carriage may be adjusted along the length of the vertical support
column to permit virtually any size package to be enclosed in the
film wrap regardless of the width of the film wrap roll. The
film wrap carriage may be locked in position on the vertical
support column to prevent vertical displacement of the film wrap
supply on the support column for operator safety. The pac~age
wrapping apparatus may be operated by a single wor~er using a
foot control for rotating the pac~age support dec~ while freeing
the operator's hands to control wrapping of the package in the
film wrap.
While particular embodiments of the present invention
have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those
skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.
Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such
changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and
scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing
description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of
illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of
the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims
when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
