EP1241101A1

EP1241101A1 - Applicator tool for applying a packaging film

Info

Publication number: EP1241101A1
Application number: EP01106609A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luis Alberto c/o Zuniga Yasociados Laguna
Original assignee: Melliger Inc
Current assignee: COLOMBO, OTTAVIO
Priority date: 2001-03-15
Filing date: 2001-03-15
Publication date: 2002-09-18

Abstract

An applicator tool for applying a packaging film, while unwinding it from a reel (3), of the type comprising a base (2) for supporting the reel (3) and a reel-holding spindle (5) fixedly attached to the base (2), further comprises at least one handle in a position proximal to an upper end of the spindle (5), in spacing relationship therefrom, forming a guiding rudder and a handgrip for the tool.

Description

Field of application

The present invention relates to an applicator tool for applying a packaging film, while unwinding it from a reel.
In particular, the present invention relates to an applicator tool of the above indicated type comprising:

a base for supporting the reel;
a reel-holding spindle, fixedly attached to the base.

As known, for the packaging of goods in general, for transport and/or storage reasons, the goods themselves are wound up and bound to suitable pallets that support them, through the application of a film, generally of extendible plastic material, which is unwound from a respective reel.
In the field of packaging, it is therefore more and more felt the need of providing a manual applicator tool for applying the film, which would not be cumbersome, which would be easy and handy to be used and inexpensive, as an alternative to the complicated and costly automatic equipment.

Prior art

In order to satisfy the above need, it has been proposed in the field an applicator tool of the manual type comprising two handgrips: a first handgrip arranged in proximity of a base for the support of the film reel and a second one formed at the free end of a reel-holding spindle fixedly attached to such base.
The presence of the two handgrips allows the manual application of the film, while unwinding it from the reel, around the goods to be packaged.
Although advantageous for some aspects, the applicator tool according to the prior art is extremely uncomfortable to be used, in particular during the application of the film around the pallet in proximity of the ground.
In fact, the configuration of the applicator tool according to the prior art is such as to require a relevant physical effort by the user during the use of the same.
Further on, the application of the film is difficult and arduous, and film breaking or insufficient tensioning of the same during the packaging operation is frequent.
As a result, the applicator tool according to the prior art can be employed in a continuous way only for short periods of time and does not guarantee a quick and homogeneous, and therefore safe, packaging of the goods.

Summary of the invention

The problem underlying the present invention is that of providing an applicator tool for applying a packaging film, while unwinding it from a reel, of manual type, which overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the applicator tool according to the prior art.
This problem is solved, according to the invention, by a tool of the type indicated above, which is characterized in that it comprises at least one handle in a position proximal to an upper end of the spindle, in spacing relationship therefrom, forming a guiding rudder and a handgrip for the tool.
According to a preferred embodiment, such at least one handle comprises a rod extending from the base for a predetermined extended height, forming a handgrip for its entire height.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the applicator tool further comprises a second rod extending from the base for a predetermined extended height, forming a second handgrip for its entire height.
Preferably, the term "extended height" is used to indicate a height substantially equal to or greater than the height of the reel.
Furthermore, in order to facilitate further the use of the applicator tool according to the invention, its base is advantageously trailer-mounted.
In this respect, one of the rods of the applicator tool according to the invention forms, preferably, a predetermined angle with the spindle, in order to form a guiding rudder for the trailer-mounted base.
Thanks to the presence of at least one handle in a position proximal to an upper end of the spindle, in spacing relationship therefrom, forming a guiding rudder and a handgrip for the tool, the applicator tool according to the invention can be easily gripped and operated in the ground position, for the application of the film around the pallet in proximity of the ground, without particular physical effort.
The high handgrip avoids in fact that the user has, for example, to bend himself in order to apply the film in that position.
Furthermore, in case of two handles each comprising a rod extending from the reel support base for a predetermined extended height, forming a handgrip for its entire length, the applicator tool according to the present invention proves to be extremely handy in all the positions required for the packaging. In fact, no particular physical effort is required even when the tool is used in a position lifted from the ground, since the rods can be gripped at a height corresponding to the center of gravity of the tool. Moreover, the user does not need advantageously to stretch himself out excessively, for example to package the upper part of the goods.
This handiness and easiness of use remarkably facilitates the application of the film and allows operating also for long periods of time without making pause, thus permitting a quick, accurate and homogeneous packaging of the goods.
The features and advantages of the invention will be better clear from the following indicative and non-limiting description of an embodiment thereof, made with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an applicator tool according to the present invention in a first manner of use;
figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the applicator tool according to the present invention in a second manner of use;
figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the applicator tool according to the present invention in a third manner of use;
figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the applicator tool according to the present invention in a fourth manner of use;
figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the applicator tool according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of an applicator tool according to a further embodiment of the present invention;
figures 7a and 7b show a schematic section view of an applicator tool according to a still further embodiment of the invention, in two distinct manners of use.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to figures 1-6, 7a and 7b, with numeral 1 there is indicated in its whole an applicator tool for applying a packaging film, while unwinding it from a reel, according to the present invention.
The applicator tool 1 is particularly but not exclusively suitable for the manual packaging of goods of any kind arranged onto a pallet, to which they are bound. In the figures, the goods and the pallet have been schematically represented and indicated with G and P, respectively.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figures 1-4, the applicator tool 1 comprises a base 2 for the support of a reel 3 of a film 4 for packaging, and a reel-holding spindle 5 fixedly attached to the base 2.
With numeral 6 a rectilinear rod extending from the base 2 for a predetermined extended height is advantageously indicated, forming a handgrip for its entire length.
In turn, with numeral 7 there is indicated a second rectilinear rod extending from the base 2 for a predetermined extended height, forming a second handgrip for its entire length.
Both rods 6 and 7 create corresponding handles in a position proximal to an upper end of the spindle 5, in spacing relationship therefrom, forming a guiding rudder and a handgrip for the applicator tool.
In this case, the extended height of the rods 6 and 7, forming the respective handgrips of the applicator tool according to the invention, is advantageously greater than the height of the reel 3.
The rods 6 and 7 extend from the base 2 from opposite positions with respect to the spindle 5.
Further on, the base 2 is trailer-mounted, and provided with suitable wheels 8.
In order to improve the guiding rudder of the trailer-mounted base 2, the rod 7 is oblique and forms a predetermined angle with the spindle.
At the free end of the spindle 5, a clutch 9 engaged in the reel 3 is provided, in order to slow the unwinding of the film 4 from the reel itself down and allow the correct tensioning of the film 4 during its application onto the goods G.
The clutch 9 is fastened releasebly to the spindle 5, in order to allow the insertion and the replacement of the reel 3 in and from the spindle 5.
In figures 1, 2 and 4 the rods 6 and 7 are partially covered by a sleeve 10, at an upper end thereof, in order to facilitate and make the grip of the rods 6 and 7 in that position safer.
Preferably, as represented in figure 3, the sleeve 10 covers the rods 6 and 7 along their entire extended height, so to facilitate the grip of the tool in all manners of use.
In figure 1, there is represented a first manner of use of the applicator tool according to the present invention.
In this manner of use, the applicator tool lays on the ground and is easily trailed or pushed by the user 11 through the handgrip formed by the oblique rod 7.
In doing this, it is possible to apply the suitably tensioned film 4, while unwinding it from the reel 3, onto the pallet P and onto the lower portion of the goods G that are provided on the pallet P.
It is clear that, thanks to the applicator tool according to the invention, this operation is now - contrary to the prior art - extremely easy to be carried out and allows an accurate and continuous application of the film 4, requiring at the same time a minimum physical effort by the user 11.
Advantageously, this operation is further facilitated by the presence of the trailer-mounted base 2 (wheels 8), which increases the speed of use of the tool and further lightens the physical effort required for the application of the packaging film 4.
In figure 2, a second manner of use of the applicator tool according to the invention is represented, which is substantially similar to the first one described above.
In this case, the base 2 of the applicator tool is not trailer-mounted, and the user 11 grips both rods 6 and 7 in order to better guide the tool around the goods to be packaged and control the correct application of the suitably tensioned film 4.
Analogously to the manner of use of figure 1, the use of the applicator tool according to the invention in the position close to the ground, is extremely handy and precise, with a minimum physical effort by the user 11.
In figure 3, a third manner of use of the applicator tool according to the invention is represented. According to this manner of use, the applicator tool is advantageously held lifted from the ground by the user 11 through the handgrips formed by the rods 6 and 7, suitably covered by the sleeves 10 as above described, which are gripped substantially in the middle.
In doing so, it is possible to wind the goods (not shown) with the suitably tensioned packaging film 4 at intermediate heights, in a functional and easy manner, by advantageously exploiting the configuration of the handgrips according to the invention.
It is worth noting that the force exerted for applying the film 4 around the goods is practically central with respect to the resisting force caused by the clutch 9 onto the reel 3 for maintaining the film 4 tensioned. Further on, during the tool holding, the hands can grip the rods 6 and 7 in an almost symmetrical position and substantially corresponding to the position of the center of gravity of the tool. This facilitates the use of the applicator tool, rendering it particularly handy.
Also in this case, the physical effort required by the user 11 is substantially lower than the effort required by the use of the tool according to the prior art in order to apply the film 4 in an analogous position.
In the same way, the applicator tool according to the invention may be easily employed also for packaging the upper part of the goods G, as indicated in figure 4 that represents a fourth manner of use of the tool.
The presence of the rods 6 and 7 according to the invention, advantageously avoids that the user 11 shall stretch himself out excessively in order to apply the film 4 in such position, thus saving excessive physical efforts to the user 11, in particular to his back and arms.
It shall be noted that in all the above described manners of use it is possible to package the goods G in a simple, quick and accurate way, without the risk of having the film 4 torn or of applying it in a non homogeneous and loose way.
Further on, the minimum physical effort required for using the applicator tool according to the invention in all its manners of use allows operation of the same in a continuous way even for long periods of time, so as to achieve a high packaging yield for a manual tool.
According to the alternative embodiments of the applicator tool according to the present invention, illustrated in the figures 5-6, 7a and 7b, same comprises a supporting frame 12 provided with a spindle 13 for the rotating support of the reel 3.
The applicator tool further comprises a rod 14 of extended length, fixedly attached to the frame 12 in a spacing relationship from the spindle 13, forming a handgrip for its entire length.
In the examples of figure 5 and 7a and 7b, the tool 1 further comprises a second rod 15 of extended length, fixedly attached to the frame 12, forming a second handgrip for its entire length.
Preferably, the extended length is substantially equal to the height of the reel 3.
Both rods 14 and 15 create corresponding handles in a position proximal to an upper end of the spindle 13, in spacing relationship therefrom, forming a guiding rudder and a handgrip for the applicator tool.
In the example of figure 5, the frame 12 is advantageously trailer-mounted and provided with suitable wheels 16. Further on, the rod 14 forms a predetermined angle with the spindle 13, in order to improve the guiding rudder of the trailer-mounted frame 12.
According this last embodiment, it shall be noted that the second rod 15 extends from the first rod 14, in proximity of a lower portion thereof.
Analogously to what described with reference to the figures 1-4, the tool 1 comprises a clutch 9 engaged in the reel 3 at the free end of the spindle 13, and sleeves 10 in order to improve the grip of the tool.
Always within the scope of the present invention, it is possible to vary the extended height of the rods 6, 7, 14 and 15, in such a way as to obtain handgrips of customized length, according to the height of the user 11.
An example thereof is represented by the applicator tool of figures 7a and 7b.
In this case, the rod 15 is realized in two parts: a first part 15a fixedly attached to the frame 12, and a second part 15b releasebly hooked to the first part 15a.
In doing so, it is possible to adjust the height and the angular displacement of the rod 15 as indicated in the two different manners of use of the tool 1 shown in such figures.
In this respect, particularly satisfying results in term of handiness of use of the applicator tool have been achieved with a minimum height of the handgrips substantially equal to the height of the reel 3.
Means, not shown, are further provided at the attachment of the rods 6 and 7 with the base 2, and at the attachment of the rods 14 and 15 with the frame 12, respectively, in order to allow a slant of the rods with respect to the spindle, as described above with reference to rods 7 and 14.
In other words, the rods 6-7 and 14-15 can be arranged in the most convenient position in order to use the applicator tool.
Preferably, the rods are rectilinear and one of them is slanted so as to form an angle with the spindle comprised between 20° and 45°.
Alternatively, the slanted rod may assume the shape of an arc of a circle or comprise two or more rectilinear portions suitably angled with respect to each other. In the example of figure 6, the rod 14 comprises two rectilinear portions substantially squared angled with respect to each other.
Preferably, the distance between the free end of the rods 7 and 14 and the spindle axis is comprised between 20 and 80 cm.
With reference to the embodiment of figure 6, it is worth noting that exclusively for sake of simplicity of graphic representation, a second rod 15 has not been indicated, which can be for example configured as shown in figure 5.
Furthermore, although not shown, the frame 12 of the applicator tools shown in figures 6 and 7a and 7b is preferably trailer-mounted as indicated in figure 5.
Preferably, the sleeve 10 that covers at least partially the rods 6 and 7, 14 and 15, has a corrugated surface so to improve and render the grip of the corresponding handgrips safer. Furthermore, the sleeves 10 are preferably realized in plastic material.
In turn, the film 4 for packaging applied by means of the present applicator tool is of extendible plastic material, generally transparent, for example polyethylene.
The film 4 is wound onto reels 3 that can be of different thickness and inner diameter.
Advantageously, the tool according to the present invention, allows using reels 3 of 5 kg, 7 kg, 10 kg and more, without the user 11 getting excessively tired.
The reels 3 are maintained in vertical position in the spindle 5, during the unwinding of the film 4, thanks to suitable centering bushes of conventional type and not shown, which can receive reels 3 of different diameter.
Finally, it shall be noted that the applicator tool according to the invention may be easily transported, so that it can be employed anywhere it is necessary to carry out a packaging. At the same time it is not cumbersome, so that when not used is not of hindrance. Moreover, it is simple and inexpensive to be manufactured.

Claims

Applicator tool for applying a packaging film, while unwinding it from a reel (3), of the type comprising:

a base (2) for supporting said reel (3);

a reel-holding spindle (5) fixedly attached to said base (2),

characterized in that it comprises at least one handle in a position proximal to an upper end of said spindle (5), in spacing relationship therefrom, forming a guiding rudder and a handgrip for said tool.
Tool according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one handle comprises a rod (6) extending from said base (2) for a predetermined extended height, forming a handgrip for its entire length.
Tool according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a second rod (7) extending from said base (2) for a predetermined extended length, forming a second handgrip for its entire length.
Tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extended height is substantially equal or greater than the height of said reel (3).
Tool according to claim 3, characterized in that said base (2) is trailer-mounted.
Tool according to claim 5, characterized in that one of said rods (6, 7) forms a predetermined angle with the spindle (5), in order to form a guiding rudder for said trailer-mounted base (2).
Applicator tool for applying a packaging film, while unwinding it from a reel (3), of the type comprising, in a supporting frame (12):

a spindle (13) for the rotating support of said reel (3),

characterized in that it comprises at least one handle in a position proximal to an upper end of said spindle (13), in spacing relationship therefrom, forming a guiding rudder and a handgrip for said tool.
Tool according to claim 7, characterized in that said at least one handle comprises a rod (14) of extended length, fixedly attached to the frame in spacing relationship from said spindle, forming a handgrip for its entire length.
Tool according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a second rod (15) of extended length, fixedly attached to the frame, forming a second handgrip for its entire length.
Tool according to one of the preceding claims 8-9, characterized in that said extended length is substantially equal to the height of said reel (3).
Tool according to claim 9, characterized in that said frame (12) is trailer-mounted.
Tool according to claim 11, characterized in that one of said rods (14, 15) forms a predetermined angle with the spindle (13), in order to form a guiding rudder for said trailer-mounted frame (12).