Method of and apparatus for wrapping loadable objects Number:6,745,544 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent A simple operation winds film around, and thereby wraps therewith, a loadable object over its entire (six) surfaces. Film is wound spirally around the loadable object by revolving film feeders along a circular path about a horizontal axis while advancing the object through the circular path and along a path of the horizontal axis in one direction. After the loadable object is so spirally wrapped, it is rotated in a horizontal or vertical plane by an angle of 90 degrees. The loadable object is then advanced in the reverse direction again through the circular path while the film feeders are revolved as before to cause another film from the film feeders to be wound spirally around the loadable object. One film feeder may furnish a continuous strip of film, and another film feeder may furnish a continuous string of film formed by compression of such a strip of film.<H apparatus, loadable, Method, of, and, a, 6745544.html, Patent, pto, 6745544

Title: Method of and apparatus for wrapping loadable objects

Abstract: A simple operation winds film around, and thereby wraps therewith, a loadable object over its entire (six) surfaces. Film is wound spirally around the loadable object by revolving film feeders along a circular path about a horizontal axis while advancing the object through the circular path and along a path of the horizontal axis in one direction. After the loadable object is so spirally wrapped, it is rotated in a horizontal or vertical plane by an angle of 90 degrees. The loadable object is then advanced in the reverse direction again through the circular path while the film feeders are revolved as before to cause another film from the film feeders to be wound spirally around the loadable object. One film feeder may furnish a continuous strip of film, and another film feeder may furnish a continuous string of film formed by compression of such a strip of film.

Patent Number: 6,745,544 Issued on 06/08/2004 to Matsumoto, et al.

Inventors: Matsumoto; Ryozo (Fukuoka, JP), Anai; Okinori (Fukuoka, JP)
Assignee: Matsumoto System Engineering Co., Ltd. (Fukuoka, JP)

Appl. No.: 09/824,209

Filed: April 3, 2001

Foreign Application Priority Data


Apr 04, 2000 [JP]			P2000-102073
Aug 18, 2000 [JP]			P2000-248530

Current U.S. Class: 53/399 ; 53/176; 53/441; 53/449

Current International Class: B65B 11/00 (20060101)

Field of Search: 53/399,441,449,176,87,88,588

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


2026282	December 1935	Leguillon
2489054	November 1949	Sprollle
3695426	October 1972	Engelsberger
3853218	December 1974	Grasvoll
3896604	July 1975	Marantz
4429794	February 1984	Steger et al.
4655028	April 1987	Silbernagel
4676048	June 1987	Lancaster et al.
4712354	December 1987	Lancaster et al.
4726172	February 1988	Widenback
4807427	February 1989	Casteel et al.
4821489	April 1989	MacLeod et al.
5079898	January 1992	Springs et al.
5182894	February 1993	Bate
5184449	February 1993	Hannen
5195297	March 1993	Lancaster et al.
5224911	July 1993	Wong
5404691	April 1995	Scherer
5463843	November 1995	Sharp
5531061	July 1996	Peterson
5660023	August 1997	Kivela
5689934	November 1997	Scherer et al.
5720153	February 1998	Martin-Cocher
5799466	September 1998	Underhill

Foreign Patent Documents


90 12 589	Nov., 1999	DE
0 553 681	Jan., 1993	EP
2269795	Feb., 1994	GB
59-46845	Nov., 1984	JP
8-508223	Sep., 1996	JP
92/14648	Sep., 1992	WO

Primary Examiner: Rada; Rinaldi I.
Assistant Examiner: Durand; Paul
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of wrapping an object, comprising: placing an object on and between sleeve pallets that are adapted to accept a fork of a forklift; alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object; and then spirally winding film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive comprises alternately spirally winding, in the same direction, said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive such that on said object and said sleeve pallets turns of said continuous strip of film are parallel to turns of said continuous string of film.

2. A method of wrapping an object, comprising: extruding an object through a press nozzle into an area defined between a pair of guide plates; alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object; and then spirally winding film around said object in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object comprises alternately spirally winding, in the same direction, said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object such that on said object turns of said continuous strip of film are parallel to turns of said continuous strip of film.

3. A method of wrapping an object, comprising: extruding an object through a press nozzle into an area defined between a pair of guide plates; alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object; and then spirally winding film around said object in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object comprises alternately spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object such that said continuous string of film is positioned on said continuous strip of film along the length of said object.

4. A method of wrapping an object, comprising: extruding an object through a press nozzle into an area defined between a pair of guide plates; alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object; and then spirally winding film around said object in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object comprises simultaneously spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object.

5. A method of wrapping an object, comprising: extruding an object through a press nozzle into an area defined between a pair of guide plates; alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object; and then spirally winding film around said object in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object, with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive, comprises revolving a film feeder about a first axis along a circular path while (i) supplying said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film from said feeder, and (ii) advancing said object through said circular path and along said first axis.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein spirally winding film around said object in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object, with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive, comprises (i) ceasing said film feeder from being revolved, and (ii) advancing said object along a second axis that is orthogonal to said first axis while (a) rotating said object about said second axis, and (b) supplying said film to said object.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein supplying said continuous string of film from said film feeder comprises supplying from said film feeder a continuous string of film that is formed by compressing a continuous strip of film.

8. A method of wrapping an object, comprising: extruding an object through a press nozzle into an area defined between a pair of guide plates; and alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object, wherein extruding an object through a press nozzle comprises conveying an object from an object feeder through said press nozzle, and wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object, with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive, comprises revolving a film feeder about an axis along a circular path while (i) supplying said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film from said film feeder, and (ii) advancing said object through said circular path along said axis.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein supplying said continuous string of film from said film feeder comprises supplying from said film feeder a continuous string of film that is formed by compressing a continuous strip of film.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object comprises alternately spiral winding, in the same direction, said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object such that on said object turns of said continuous strip of film are parallel to turns of said continuous string of film.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object such that said strip of film and said string of film are overlapped one another along a length of said object comprises alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object such that said string of film is positioned on said strip of film along the length of said object.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object comprises simultaneously spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising, after alternately spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object, with a portion of said press nozzle and said guide plates inclusive, spirally winding film around said object in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object.

14. A method of wrapping an object, comprising: placing an object on and between sleeve pallets that are adapted to accept a fork of a forklift; and alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object, wherein alternately spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive comprises simultaneously spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein simultaneously spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive comprises simultaneously spirally winding, in the same direction, said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive such that on said object and said sleeve pallets turns of said continuous strip of film are parallel to turns of said continuous string of film.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein simultaneously spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive such that said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film are overlapped with one another along a length of said object comprises simultaneously spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive such that said continuous string of film is positioned on said continuous strip of film along the length of said object.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein simultaneously spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive comprises revolving a film feeder about an axis along a circular path while (i) supplying said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film from said feeder, and (ii) advancing said object and said sleeve pallets through said circular path and along said axis.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein supplying said continuous string of film from said film feeder comprises supplying from said film feeder a continuous string of film that is formed by compressing a continuous strip of film.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, after simultaneously spirally winding said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive, spirally winding film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein simultaneously spirally winding a continuous strip of film and a continuous string of film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive comprises revolving a film feeder about a first axis along a circular path while (i) supplying said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film from said feeder, and (ii) advancing said object and said sleeve pallets through said circular path and along said first axis.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein spirally winding film around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction in which said continuous strip of film and said continuous string of film were spirally wound around said object with said sleeve pallets inclusive comprises (i) ceasing said film feeder from being revolved, and (ii) advancing said object and said sleeve pallets along a second axis that is orthogonal to said first axis while (a) rotating said object and said sleeve pallets about said second axis, and (b) supplying said film to said object and said sleeve pallets.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein supplying said continuous string of film from said film feeder comprises supplying from said film feeder a continuous string of film that is formed by compressing a continuous strip of film.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for wrapping loadable objects in which a loadable object brought in as a mass is wrapped by spirally winding film around the object, both about a horizontal axis and about a vertical axis thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Wrapping methods and apparatus of the type described above have been known in the art as shown and described in JP 59-46845 B and JP 8-508223 A.

JP 59-46845 B, referred to as the first prior art below, discloses an arrangement in which a loadable object is placed on a conveyor whose upper and lower surfaces move in an identical direction at an identical speed. A web made of stretchable material is wound around both the conveyor and the loadable object being carried by the conveyor. The loadable object is allowed to move beyond a downstream end of the conveyor to come off the conveyor where shrinkage of the web causes the loadable object alone to be wrapped thereby.

JP 8-508223 A, referred to as the second prior art below, describes in one of its intended forms of implementation an arrangement in which a web is wound around a loadable object, on a first table, about a horizontal axis and is thereby wrapped. The object so wrapped is then moved onto a second table, which is rotated about a vertical axis of the second table to further wrap a web around the object in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the object is wrapped on the first table.

The second prior art also describes in another form of implementation contemplated, the use of a wrapping device that is revolvable about a vertical axis in an arrangement in which a loadable object is rotatable about a horizontal axis. Thus, a web may be wrapped around the loadable object about a vertical axis by revolving the wrapping device about the vertical axis, and about a horizontal axis by rotating the loadable object about the horizontal axis.

The capability by the first prior art of wrapping a web only about a horizontal axis is inconveniently unsuitable to wrap, and thereby to package, three-dimensional objects.

Also, while the second prior art permits a web to be wrapped around a loadable object about both horizontal and vertical axes thereof, if its one form of implementation is adopted in which the object is wrapped in dissimilar directions, it is required that the object be placed from the first to the second table, that a web roll be tilted 90 degrees while a web is being wrapped around the object, and moreover that the second table be rotated. Therefore, not only is a cumbersome double wrapping operation entailed, but also an apparatus for practicing this operation becomes inconveniently complex in terms of mechanisms.

In the other form of implementation of the second prior art, a technique that is capable of doubly wrapping web material around a loadable object resting at the same position, about both vertical and horizontal axes, a need to include two independent mechanisms for wrapping web material about the horizontal and vertical axes, respectively, makes equipment again inconveniently complex and large-scaled.

Further as described in the second prior art, the technique of wrapping film in the form of a continuous strip doubly around a loadable object about both axes is efficient to thoroughly cover an entire surface of the object therewith, but such wrappage is weak in strength and gives rise to a problem in that if the wrappage is hit by something sharp it may easily rupture to allow its contents to escape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing state of art taken into account, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of wrapping a loadable object using a conventional wrapping machine for wrapping film around loadable objects about a horizontal axis, which method permits film to be easily wrapped around the loadable object both about its horizontal and about its vertical axes. An additional object of the present invention is a wrapping apparatus for use in carrying out the method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrapping technique whereby a continuous strip of film, and a continuous string of film formed by compressing such a continuous strip of film, are both spirally wound around a loadable object about both a horizontal and a vertical axis thereof, which technique makes wrapping much less rupturable and prevents run-out of dust or refuse from the loadable object.

In order to achieve the objects mentioned above, the present invention provides in one method aspect thereof a method of wrapping a loadable object, which method comprises: revolving a film feeder about a horizontal axis along a circular path while advancing a loadable object through the circular path and along a path extending in a direction of the horizontal axis from a first side towards a second side to cause film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping at least a portion or a major part of the loadable object; thereafter rotating the loadable object in a horizontal plane by an angle of 90 degrees; and advancing the loadable object along the horizontal path from the second side towards the first side while revolving the film feeder about the horizontal axis along the circular path to cause film from the film feeder to be again wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby completing wrapping the loadable object.

The present invention also provides a method of wrapping a loadable object, which method comprises: revolving a film feeder about a horizontal axis along a circular path while advancing a loadable object through the circular path and along a path extending in a direction of the horizontal axis from a first side towards a second side to cause film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping at least a portion or a major part of the loadable object; thereafter rotating the loadable object in a vertical plane by a phase angle of 90 degrees; and advancing the loadable object along the horizontal path from the second side towards the first side while revolving the film feeder about the horizontal axis along the circular path to cause film from the film feeder to be wound spirally again around the loadable object, thereby completing wrapping of the loadable object.

The present invention also provides a method of wrapping a loadable object, which method comprises: providing a film feeder for supplying a plurality of films, at least one of which is a continuous strip of film and at least another of which is a continuous string of film formed by compressing such a continuous strip of film; and revolving the film feeder about a horizontal axis along a circular path while advancing a loadable object through the circular path and along a path extending in a direction of the horizontal axis to cause at least one continuous strip of film and at least one continuous string of film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping the loadable object with such at least one continuous strip and at least one continuous string of film.

In a specific form of an embodiment of the present invention, the loadable object is placed on a sleeve pallet that is adapted to accept a fork of a forklift, and film from the feeder is wound around both the loadable object and the sleeve pallet.

According to one apparatus aspect for carrying out one method described above, the present invention provides an apparatus for wrapping a loadable object, which apparatus comprises: a film feeder adapted for revolving about a horizontal axis along a circular path; and a bi-directional conveyor adapted to carry and advance a loadable object through the circular path in a direction of the horizontal axis from a first side towards a second side and from the second side towards the first side, whereby the film feeder so revolving in conjunction with the loadable object so advanced by the conveyor from the first side towards the second side causes film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping at least a portion or a major part of the loadable object. The apparatus further comprises: a carrier table juxtaposed with the conveyor at the second side for receiving the loadable object having a continuous strip of film wound around it, rotating the received loadable object in a horizontal plane by an angle of 90 degrees, and then returning the rotated loadable object onto the conveyor, whereby the film feeder revolving as aforesaid in conjunction with the loadable object from the carrier table advanced by the conveyor as aforesaid from the second side towards the first side causes film from the film feeder to be again wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby completing wrapping of the loadable object.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for wrapping a loadable object, which apparatus comprises: a film feeder adapted for revolving about a horizontal axis along a circular path; and a bi-directional conveyor adapted to carry and advance the loadable object through the circular path in a direction of the horizontal axis from a first side towards a second side and from the second side towards the first side, whereby the film feeder so revolving in conjunction with the loadable object so advanced by the conveyor from the first side towards the second side causes film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping at least a portion or a major part of the loadable object. The apparatus further comprises a carrier table juxtaposed with the conveyor at the second side for receiving the loadable object having a continuous strip of film wound around it, rotating the received loadable object in a vertical plane by an angle of 90 degrees, and then returning the rotated loadable object onto the conveyor, whereby the film feeder revolving as aforesaid in conjunction with the loadable object from the carrier table advanced by the conveyor as aforesaid from the second side towards the first side causes film from the film feeder to be again wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby completing wrapping of the loadable object.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for wrapping a loadable object, which apparatus comprises: a film feeder adapted for revolving about a horizontal axis along a circular path; and a conveyor adapted to carry and advance the loadable object through the circular path in a direction of the horizontal axis, whereby the film feeder so revolving in conjunction with the loadable object so advanced by the conveyor causes film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping the loadable object. The film feeder comprises a plurality of film feeders, at least one of which includes in a film feed outlet thereof a squeeze roller device for squeezing a continuous strip of film being fed out so as to narrow its width and thereby to provide a continuous string of film, whereby the loadable object is wound spirally and thereby wrapped with such continuous strip and continuous string of film.

The constructions mentioned above allow a loadable object to move forth and back through a conventional wrapping machine, and during such bi-directional movement of the loadable object, film is wound around the loadable object over its entire orthogonal six surfaces and doubly on both its upper and lower or front and back surfaces with strips of intersecting fim.

Also, forming film from a continuous strip into a continuous string in at least one film feeder allows a loadable object to be wound and thereby tightly wrapped with a wider form of film and a compressed form of film.

Further, using a sleeve pallet allows a fork of a forklift, in carrying a film wrapped loadable object together with the sleeve pallet, to be accepted by the sleeve pallet upon breaking the film.

In order to achieve the objects mentioned above, the present invention provides in another aspect thereof a method of wrapping a loadable object, which method comprises: supplying a film wrapping machine with a loadable object by extruding the loadable object from a loadable object feeder through a press nozzle into an area defined between a pair of guide plates within a circular path in the film wrapping machine; and revolving a film feeder about a horizontal axis along the circular path while advancing the supplied loadable object through the circular path and along a path extending in a direction of the horizontal axis to cause film from the film feeder to be spirally wound around the loadable object with a portion of the press nozzle and the guide plates inclusive.

The present invention also provides a method of wrapping a loadable object, which method comprises: revolving a film feeder about a horizontal axis along a circular path while advancing a loadable object through the circular path and along a path extending in a direction of the horizontal axis to cause film from the film feeder to be spirally wound around the loadable object about the horizontal axis; ceasing the film feeder from being revolved; and advancing the loadable object in a direction of a vertical axis while rotating the loadable object about the vertical axis to cause film to be wound spirally around the loadable object about the vertical axis. The film feeder comprises a plurality of film feeders positioned along the circular path, at least one of which is adapted to supply film in the form of a continuous strip, and at least another of which is adapted to form such a continuous strip of film into a continuous string of film and supply the latter, whereby the loadable object is wound and thereby wrapped with such at least one continuous strip and continuous string of film.

In another apparatus aspect for carrying out a method as described above, the present invention also provides an apparatus for wrapping a loadable object, which apparatus comprises: a film wrapping machine having an inlet for receiving a loadable object from a loadable object feeder, with the inlet having a press nozzle formed into a shape adapted to surround the loadable object from the loadable object feeder; a film feeder adapted for revolving about a horizontal axis along a circular path defined in the film wrapping machine; and a conveyor adapted to carry and advance the loadable object through the circular path in a direction of the horizontal axis, whereby the film feeder so revolving in conjunction with the loadable object so advanced by the conveyor causes film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object, thereby wrapping the loadable object.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for wrapping a loadable object, which apparatus comprises: a film wrapping machine; a film feeder adapted for revolving about a horizontal axis along a circular path defined in the film wrapping machine; a conveyor adapted to carry and advance a loadable object from a loadable object feeder through the circular path in a direction of the horizontal axis from a first side to a second side, whereby the film feeder so revolving in conjunction with the loadable object so advanced by the conveyor from the first side towards the second side causes film from the film feeder to be wound spirally around the loadable object about the horizontal axis, whereon the film feeder ceases to be revolved; and a rotary table disposed adjacent to the second side for advancing the loadable object in a direction of a vertical axis while rotating the loadable object about the vertical axis to cause film to be wound spirally around the loadable object about the vertical axis. The film feeder comprises a plurality of film feeders, at least one of which is positioned for film to be paid out therefrom oriented parallel to the horizontal axis, and at least another of which is positioned for film to be paid out therefrom oriented parallel to the vertical axis.

According to a specific arrangement of the present invention, the film feeder includes: a film support shaft for carrying a roll of film; an inlet and an outlet roll adapted to be driven to guide and pay out film from the roll of film carried by the film support shaft; and a coupling mechanism interposed between the inlet and outlet rolls for establishing a relationship between these rolls such that the inlet roll rotates slower than the outlet roll rotates. The coupling mechanism is coupled to a shaft for the inlet roll and coupled via a centrifugal clutch to a shaft for the outlet roll.

According to another specific arrangement of the present invention, the above-mentioned rotary table has a conveyor mounted thereon and is adapted to move in a direction in which the conveyor conveys.

According to another specific arrangement of the present invention, the wrapping machine is movable towards and away from the loadable object feeder.

In the construction described above, while a loadable object is advancing horizontally, revolving the film feeders causes film paid out from one film feeder, so oriented that film is paid out parallel to the horizontal axis, to be wound in the form of a continuous strip spirally around the loadable object with a portion of the press nozzle and the guide plates inclusive, and causes film paid out from another film feeder, so oriented that film is paid out parallel to the vertical axis, to be wound in the form of a continuous string spirally around the loadable object with a portion of the press nozzle and the guide plates inclusive.

Also, in a state in which a film feeder ceases to revolve, if a loadable object on the rotary table is lifted and rotated about a vertical axis, a resultant change in the axis about which film is wound around the loadable object relative to vertical causes film paid out from that film feeder, which is so oriented that film is paid out parallel to the horizontal axis, to be wound in the form of a continuous string spirally around the loadable object, and causes film paid out from that film feeder, which is so oriented that film is paid out parallel to the vertical axis, to be wound in the form of a continuous strip spirally around the loadable object.

Consequently, moving the loadable object horizontally causes film to be wound spirally around the loadable object about the horizontal axis, and lifting and rotating the rotary table causes film to be wound spirally around the loadable object about the vertical axis.

Also, in each film feeder, if a rate of paying out film is low, slow rotation of the outlet roll leaves the centrifugal clutch deactuated and thus leaves both rolls rotating at a same peripheral speed. A rise in the rate of paying out film actuates the centrifugal clutch to couple the outlet roll and the coupling mechanism on the latter's side via the centrifugal clutch. This causes the inlet roll to rotate slower than the outlet roll, and a difference in peripheral speed between the two rolls causes film to elongate or stretch where it is running between the rolls.

Also, the conveyor on the rotary table is made movable towards an arriving loadable object. Thus, by moving the conveyor to an upstream side of its direction of conveyance, placement of the loadable object onto the rotary table is facilitated.

Further, guiding through a press nozzle a loadable object supplied from a loadable object feeder into the wrapping machine prevents the loadable object from falling. Further, moving the wrapping machine away from the loadable object feeder creates a space therebetween where maintenance operations can readily be conducted. This also facilitates cleaning an environment of the wrapping machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an apparatus that represents a first form of implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view illustrating a portion of the apparatus as seen from the direction shown by arrows III and III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view diagrammatically illustrating a conveyor mechanism included in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view illustrating a film feeder included in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view illustrating the film feeder as seen from the direction shown by arrow VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view illustrating a cutting assembly included in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cutting assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a chucking unit included in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 10 is a function explanatory view shown for aid in understanding the cutting assembly of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating an apparatus that represents a second form of implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an object wrapped with a strip of film;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating an object wrapped with a strip of film;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a strip of film paid out from a film supplying machine is formed into a string of film for winding around a loadable object;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an object together with a sleeve pallet is being wrapped;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view illustrating an apparatus according to a third form of implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a front view illustrating a ring-rotated wrapping machine shown in FIG. 18 in which its front side is omitted from illustration;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view illustrating a film feeder for use in a third form of implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a side view illustrating the film feeder shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a front view illustrating the film feeder shown in FIGS. 20 and 21;

FIG. 23 is a side view illustrating a chucking assembly for use in the third form of implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a front view illustrating the chucking assembly shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a side view illustrating a cutter assembly for use in the third form of implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a front view illustrating the cutter assembly shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a top plan view illustrating the cutter assembly shown in FIGS. 25 and 26;

FIG. 28 is an explanatory view to aid in understanding the operation of the cutter assembly shown in FIGS. 25 to 27; and

FIG. 29 is a perspective view illustrating a film wrapped loadable object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6, mention is made of an apparatus according to a first form of the present invention illustrated in the form of a ring-type wrapping machine designated by general reference character 1. Included in the ring-type wrapping machine 1 are in general: a rotary ring 3 supported from a frame 2 rotatably about its horizontally extending axis; a rotation drive motor 4 for rotationally driving the rotary ring 3; a pair of film feeders 5a and 5b attached to and carried by the rotary ring 3 and positioned thereon symmetrically with respect to an axis of rotation for the rotary ring 3; a first conveyor mechanism 6 disposed below the axis of rotation for the rotary ring 3 and extending in a direction parallel thereto for conveying both a loadable object A and strips of film; a second conveyor mechanism 8 for feeding a loadable object A onto the first conveyor mechanism 6; and a film cutting assembly 10 for cutting film fed from the film feeders 5a and 5b onto the loadable object A on the conveyor mechanism 6. It should be noted here that the two film feeders 5a and 5b shown may be replaced by one film feeding mechanism 5.

Such a ring-type wrapping machine 1 as described above belongs to the prior art. And in the apparatus 1, the rotary ring 3 is adapted for rotation by the drive motor 4 via a belt 11. Also in the apparatus 1, the conveyor mechanism 6 includes an object carrying belt 6a for carrying a loadable object A to be moved and a pair of belts 6b and 6b disposed at opposite ends of the object carrying belt 6a for carrying film 9 running below the object carrying belt 6a and moving the film in the same direction in which the loadable object A is moved. The film carrying belts 6b and 6b have their upper sides lower than an upper side of the object carrying belt 6a, and their lower sides lower than a lower side of the object carrying belt 6a so that the film 9 running below the object carrying belt 6a comes into contact with the film carrying belts 6b and 6b that lie below the lower side of the object carrying belt 6a.

The object carrying belt 6a and the film carrying belts 6b, 6b are designed to be driven at an identical speed by a drive motor (not shown) therefor but are arranged to be driven in mutually opposite directions. This establishes a state in which the upper side of the object carrying belt 6a always moves in the same direction and at the same speed as the lower sides of the film carrying belts 6b and 6b move. Two motors used to drive the belt 6a and the belts 6b, 6b are designed to be rotatable in both rotary directions.

The conveyor mechanism 6 is supported at its forward end by a support roller 6c as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and best seen from FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, the film feeders 5a, 5b comprise a film support shaft 12 for supporting a roll of film 9, and a pair of draw rollers 13a and 13b, and are so arranged that film 9 is paid out from the roll supported by the support shaft 12 and is fed out via the two draw rollers 13a and 13b. In this case, the two draw rollers 13a and 13b are allowed to rotate by the film 9 being pulled out and are designed so that a difference in rotation is then brought about between them to produce an intense stretching force acting on the film 9. To this end, the two draw rollers 13a and 13b have pulleys varying in diameter attached thereto and coupled together via a belt 15 as shown to be rotatable in a same direction.

At least one of the film feeders 5a and 5b is provided with a pair of squeeze rollers 16a and 16b as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, which is shown positioned adjacent to the draw roller 13b at a film outlet side of the film feeders 5a, 5b. The squeeze rollers 16a and 16b are juxtaposed with each other across a width of the film 8 positioned between these rollers, with a spacing between the rollers being adjustable.

A film cutting assembly 10 as seen from FIGS. 1 to 3, 7 and 8 includes a cutter arm 17 that is capable of rotation to move from below the conveyor mechanism 6 to an outside of the rotary ring 3, and a cutter head 17a attached at a tip of the cutter arm 17 for cutting the film 9. Associated with the film cutting assembly 10 are a chucking assembly 18 for chucking the film 9 once cut, and a bar 19 for guiding the film 9 for cutting. The chucking assembly 18 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a pair of chucking edges 18a and 18b that are rotatable to be brought together to grasp, and thus to chuck, cut film therebetween. During a film winding and object wrapping operation, the chucking edges 18a and 18b are left swung open right and left so as not to interfere with the film 9. During a film cutting operation, the chucking edges 18a and 18 as shown in FIG. 9 are caused to project towards the film 9, and then to rotate inwardly towards each other to chuck the film 9 therewith as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. The bar 19 is also caused to project as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 and is provided to facilitate cutting the film 9 by guiding and holding the film.

Disposed downstream of the conveyor mechanism 6 in the ring-type wrapping machine 1 is a carrier rotary table assembly 21, which is spaced from the conveyor mechanism 6 with a predetermined spacing 20 in the direction of conveyance as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The carrier rotary table assembly 21 comprises a carrier table 22, and a rotary drive 23 for rotating the carrier table 22 horizontally about a vertical axis.

The carrier table 22 includes a conveyor belt 27 that is formed from a large number of elongate plates 24 endlessly joined together with chains, and that is wound on a driving and a driven roller 25 and 26. Disposed as standing adjacent to an end of a conveyance path established by the conveyor belt 27 are a plurality of stopper posts 28. Each of the elongate plates 24 in the conveyor belt 27 has a large number of rolling rollers 29 whose rotating axes are oriented at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the direction of the conveyance path of the conveyor belt 27 so that when the loadable object A having been conveyed by the conveyor belt 27 hits the stopper posts 28, a repulsive force then produced is transmitted to the rolling rollers 29, which develops a force acting on the object A in a state so as to move the object in a right-angle direction. The stopper posts 28 have their surfaces also provided with a large number of rollers, whereby the loadable object A coming into contact with the stopper posts 28 is allowed to move in such a right-angle direction without having resistance from the contacted posts 28. A carrier table 22 so constructed to operate is publicly known and commercially available and may be made of a carrier table marketed under the trade name "KANTARO" by Toho Kikai Kogyo, Kabushiki Kaisha in Japan. A drive motor 30 connected to the driving roller 25 drives the conveyor belt 27.

The carrier table 22 rests on the horizontal rotary drive 23 and is adapted to rotate by an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyor mechanism 6 in the ring rotated wrapping machine 1.

Mention is next made of an operation of the first form of implementation of the present invention whose construction is so far described.

First, a loadable object A is conveyed from the conveyor mechanism 8 onto the conveyor mechanism 6 in the ring rotated wrapping machine 1. The loadable object A is conveyed to move towards a downstream of the conveyor mechanism 6. The film cutting assembly 10 has then been displaced to a location where it causes no interference with the film 9 turning round. In this state, the wrapping machine 1 is actuated to wind the film 9 both around the loadable object A and around the conveyor mechanism 6 (belts 6a and 6b). The film 9 is stretched into the form of a continuous strip, which as the object A moves is wound spirally around the object about the horizontally extending axis of the rotary ring 3. And, those portions of the continuous strip of film 9 that run below the conveyor belts 6a and 6b move following their movement at the same speed as the object A moves downstream. Those portions of the continuous strip of film 9 that lie below the conveyor belts 6a and 6b successively come off these belts as the corresponding portions of the loadable object A successively come off the conveyor mechanism 6, as the object moves downstream, when these portions pass across spacing 20 established between the conveyor mechanism 6 and the carrier rotary table assembly 21. Then, a restoring force stored in a stretched strip of film 9 is released to allow the strip of film to be wound densely around the loadable object A tightly. And, in a state in which the loadable object A has been fully wound with the strip of film 9 over a total length of movement of the loadable object A in its direction of movement, the film cutting assembly 10 is actuated to cut the strip of film 9, and a cut end of the strip of film is chucked by the chucking assembly 18. See FIGS. 7 to 10.

The loadable object A conveyed from the conveyor mechanism 6 is accepted onto the carrier table 22 in the carrier rotary table assembly 21, and then carried thereon by the conveyor belt 27 as the object comes into contact with the stopper posts 28.

However, before the loadable object A comes into contact with the stopper posts 28, the rotary drive 23 rotates the carrier table 22 by an angle of 90 degrees in a rotary direction that permits movement of the loadable object A, immediately later produced by the rolling rollers 29, to be headed towards the conveyor mechanism 6 in the ring rotated wrapping machine 1.

Continuing conveyance by the conveyor belt 27 in the carrier table assembly 22 causes the rolling rollers 29 to turn movement of the loadable object A upon hitting the stopper posts 28, and then causes the loadable object A to move back towards the ring rotated wrapping machine 1. Now, operating the ring rotated wrapping machine 1 in the same manner as mentioned previously, except that the direction of conveyance of the conveyor mechanism 6 is reversed, causes the loadable object A horizontally turned by 90 degrees coming from the carrier table 22 to travel backwards on the conveyor mechanism 6, and during this course another continuous strip of film 9 is wound again spirally around that loadable object A about the same horizontal axis as mentioned before. As a result of these operations, the loadable object A in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped or hexahedron as shown in FIG. 13, has its side surfaces fully covered with strips of film 9 and its upper and lower surfaces fully and doubly covered with strips of intersecting film 9.

Where wrapping executed concurrently with a reversed run has been accomplished, the continuous strip of film 9 is cut and the conveyor mechanism 6 is normally driven to feed the wrapped loadable object A downstream towards the carrier rotary table assembly 21 in which the carrier table 22 that has been retuned to its original position conveys the wrapped loadable object A received from the conveyor mechanism 6 until it contacts the stopper posts 28. Then, continuing conveyance by conveyor belt 27 causes the wrapped loadable object A to be swept away sideways.

Repeating the foregoing operations produces a series of wrapped loadable objects each in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, each having its side surfaces fully covered with first or second continuous strips of film 9, and its upper and lower surfaces fully and doubly covered with both the first and second strips of film 9 in an intersecting manner. As a matter of course, winding need not be limited to two strips of film, and many include more than two strips of film.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a loadable object wrapping apparatus according to a second form of implementation of the present invention, again using as its component a ring rotated wrapping machine, here designated by general reference character 1'. The ring rotated wrapping machine 1' shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be considered to be identical to the ring rotated wrapping machine 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 10. Accordingly, in the following description components of the ring rotated wrapping machine 1' shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 according to the second form of implementation of the present invention carry the same reference characters as in FIGS. 1 and 2 distinguished by a prime "'", and repeated explanations thereof are omitted. It should also be noted that one film feeder 5a' shown may be replaced by two film feeders.

Downstream of conveyor mechanism 6' in the ring rotated wrapping machine 1'a rotary table 31 is disposed and juxtaposed therewith across a spacing 20' in a direction of conveyance of a loadable object A. The rotary table 31 includes a conveyer belt 32 adapted to travel in the same direction as the conveyer belts 6a' and 6b' of the conveyor mechanism 6'. And, this rotary table 31 is designed to be rotatable about an upstream end of the conveyer belt 32 in a vertical plane from its horizontal position until it stands vertically. The rotary table 31 is so rotatable by a cylinder actuator.

The rotary table 31 also has a pair of holders 34a and 34b designed to hold the loadable object A on the rotary table 31 from its opposite sides. Each of the holders 34a and 34b comprises a holder plate 35 in contact with the loadable object A, and a drive 36 for moving the holder plate 35.

In operation of the apparatus according to the second form of implementation of the present invention shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a loadable object A is carried by a conveyor not shown onto the conveyor mechanism 6'. And, the loadable object A is advanced downstream by the conveyor mechanism 6'. The ring rotated wrapping machine 1' is then operated to wind film 9 from the film feeder 5a' around both the loadable object A and the conveyer belts 6a' and 6b' of the conveyor mechanism 6'. Then, film 9 is stretched into a continuous strip of film, which is spirally wound around the loadable object A as the latter is advanced on the conveyer belt 6a'. And, as the film support conveyor belts 6b' and 6b' move, those portions of the continuous strip of spiraled film that run below these conveyor belts, and are carried thereby, are moved therewith at the same speed as the loadable object A moves. And, as the loadable object A successively comes off the conveyor mechanism 6' and downstream thereof, those portions of the continuous strip of film 9 also successively come off, with a restoring force stored in the strip of film, when released, permitting the continuous strip of film 9 to be densely wound around the loadable object A tightly. Then, a cutter is actuated to cut an end of the continuous strip of film 9 wound on the loadable object A over its entire length to separate the end from film 9 in the film feeder 5a', and to allow a chucking assembly to chuck the separated end of film extending from the film feeder 5a'.

The loadable object A that leaves the conveyor mechanism 6' is now received by the rotary table 31. When the entire body of the loadable object A comes to lie on the rotary table 31, the conveyor belt 32 is at a standstill and the holder 34a and 34b are actuated to firmly hold the loadable object A on the rotary table 31. Then, the cylinder actuator 34 is operated to rotate the rotary table 31 in a vertical plane until it stands upright, after which the loadable object A is released from being held by the holders 34a and 34b.

Now, the loadable object A having been rotated by an angle of 90 degrees thereof in the vertical plane lies on or across a downstream end of the conveyor mechanism 6' of the ring-rotated wrapping machine 1'. In this state, the conveyor mechanism 6' of the ring-rotated wrapping machine 1' is reversely driven. This causes the loadable object A, reoriented by 90 degrees in the vertical plane from its previous orientation, to be moved by the conveyor belt 6a' in a reverse direction. While the loadable object A is so moving, the ring-rotated wrapping machine 1' is operated to wind a continuou