WO2013096263A1

WO2013096263A1 - Wrapping machine with a rotatable arm and two wrapping stations

Info

Publication number: WO2013096263A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/070262
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pavel Basharanov
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Priority date: 2011-12-22
Filing date: 2012-12-18
Publication date: 2013-06-27
Also published as: TW201325994A; FI20116311A

Abstract

A wrapping machine (1), said wrapping machine comprising a base (2), a support structure attached to the base (2), said support structure including a vertically extending support section (3), said vertically extending support section having attached thereto a horizontally extending support section (4), an arm structure rotatable relative to the support structure, said arm structure comprising a horizontally extending arm section (6) connected rotatably to the support structure's horizontally extending support section (4), and a vertically extending arm section (7) connected to the horizontal arm section, and film dispensing elements (8) movably mounted on the arm structure's vertically extending arm section (7), whereby the wrapping machine further comprises at least a second structure making up a wrapping station of the similar type.

Description

WRAPPING MACHINE WITH A ROTATABLE ARM AND TWO WRAPPING STATIONS

The invention relates to a wrapping machine using a film material as the wrapping material.

The prior art discloses a variety of wrapping machine types for wrapping plastic film in the form of a web around goods to be packaged. The goods to be packaged is typically a load placed on a pallet, said load being generally an entity in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped.

In wrapping machines, plastic film is wound around a load either by rotating rolls of plastic film web around a pallet or by turning a pallet with respect to rolls of plastic film web, or by performing both at the same time, whereby the rolls of plastic film web are also simultaneously moved in vertical direction. Wrapping machines are also typically equipped with means of providing a piece of film web for covering a top surface of the load to be wrapped.

One known way of providing a movable wrapping machine is to combine the wrap- ping machine with a forklift used in picking up and moving the pallets. Hence, the wrapping machine can be brought into action as necessary and set aside when no more wrapping is needed, thus avoiding the need of reserving a permanent location for the wrapping machine. This results for example in a more space-efficient packaging process. One known wrapping machine connectable with a forklift is disclosed in patent publication EP 1 489 004, which comprises a support structure consisting of a fork- shaped lower support section extending in horizontal plane and based against the floor, a vertical support section extending vertically from an edge of the fork-shaped support section, as well as an upper support extending from the end of the vertical support section in horizontal plane within a range defined by the lower support section. The upper support has attached to its distal end an arm portion extending in horizontal plane rotatably relative to its attachment point, said horizontal arm portion having attached to its distal end a vertical arm portion extending vertically downwards. This vertical arm portion has attached thereto film dispensing elements comprising a roll of film, which elements are displaceable along the vertical arm portion during the process of wrapping the film around a load to be wrapped up.

The present invention provides a solution which offers a movable wrapping machine with two wrapping stations. The invention provides a wrapping machine which enables the simultaneous wrapping of two loads or, alternatively, the wrapping of one load and the simultaneous preparation of another load for wrapping. Hence, the invention offers a solution which enables speeding up the wrapping process with respect to the prior art solutions and improving the efficiency of a wrapping machine operator's work.

The solution according to the invention is preferably made up of a base, two side- by-side arranged support structures attached to the base, an arm structure attached rotatably to each support structure, as well as film dispensing elements mounted movably on the arm structures. Each support structure is preferably made up of a vertically extending support section to whose top end zones are attached support sections extending in horizontal plane and preferably in opposite directions. The arm structures are preferably made up of an arm section, which extends in horizontal plane and is attached from one end to the support structure and from other end to a top end of the vertically downward extending arm section. The film dis- pensing elements comprise preferably a roll of film web, as well as means for mounting the roll of film web in a manner movable along the arm structure's vertically extending arm section.

The solution of the invention, comprising two wrapping stations on the opposite sides of a wrapping machine, provides a balanced wrapping machine, which ena- bles a substantial reduction in the size of a base used for supporting the wrapping machine. This provides a major facilitation regarding the mobility of a wrapping machine of the invention, as well as a reduction of the storage space required.

The wrapping machine according to the invention has its base preferably provided with recesses, notches or the like, into which can be inserted a fork-shaped lifting element, such as the lifting fork of a forklift or a pallet truck, for lifting the wrapping machine off the floor level and for moving it.

The wrapping machine according to the invention is also preferably provided with elements for immobilizing a load, such as for example a loaded roller cage, to be wrapped up with the wrapping machine and being equipped with wheels. Thus, the load with wheels is not able to move during the wrapping process. These elements for immobilizing a load with wheels are also preferably attached to the wrapping machine so as to enable the elements to be brought into the wrapping zone for action and to be deactivated by removing them from the wrapping zone, whereby said elements do not hinder use of the wrapping machine for wrapping up wheelless loads.

In addition, the wrapping machine according to the invention is preferably equipped with batteries for producing operating power for the wrapping machine. Hence, the wrapping machine is made into a functional entity, which can be moved around freely without consideration for power supply, which further improves the solution of the invention in terms of its functionality.

If necessary, the wrapping machine of the invention can also be configured with three wrapping stations. In this case, the wrapping machine has its wrapping sta- tions, and specifically the horizontally extending sections of the wrapping stations' support structures, set at a spacing of 120 degrees around the wrapping machine's base and center structure. This solution with three wrapping stations also enables providing a balanced and practical construction for the solution of the invention.

More specifically, the wrapping machine according to the invention is characterized by what is presented in the characterizing clause of claim 1 .

The invention will now be described more precisely by way of example with reference to the accompanying figure, which fig. 1 shows schematically a wrapping machine according to the invention.

A wrapping machine 1 with two wrapping stations, which is shown in fig. 1 , com- prises a base 2, two side-by-side support structures attached to the base, each of said support structures consisting of a vertically extending support section 3, 3' and a horizontally extending support section 4, 4'. In the illustrated example, the horizontal support sections 4, 4' are connected to each other for a single horizontally extending unit by means of a connecting piece 5, providing also a structural rein- forcement for the wrapping machine 1 .

The support structures have at the distal end zones of the horizontally extending support sections 4, 4' rotatable relative to the support structures attached arm structures, said arm structures being rotatable with respect to a vertical rotation axis extending through the attachment points thereof. The arm structures consist of a horizontally extending arm section 6, 6' and vertically extending arm sections 7, 7', whereby the arm structures attach to the wrapping machine's 1 support structures at one end zone of the horizontally extending arm sections 6, 6', and from the other ends of the horizontally extending arm sections 6, 6' extend the vertically extending arm sections 7, 7' downward from the level of the horizontally extending arm sections.

The wrapping machine 1 has the vertically extending arm sections 7, T of its arm structures provided with movably mounted film dispensing elements 8, 8', said film dispensing elements being movable in vertical direction along the vertically extending arm sections.

On top of the wrapping machine's 1 base 2 and at least partly between the vertically extending support sections 3, 3' is formed a box structure 9, said box structure housing, among others, batteries (not shown) that provide operating power for the wrapping machine.

To the wrapping machine's 1 base 2 are attached elements 10, 10' for holding a roller cage 1 1 stationary during the wrapping process. In the illustrated example, the elements 10 clamp a caster wheel of the roller cage 1 1 in a fixed position. The elements 10, 10' are preferably attached to the base in a pivotable manner, enabling the elements 10, 10' to be turned to the operating position thereof and away from the wrapping zone for not impeding the use of the wrapping machine 1 for wrapping other types of loads, such as loads placed on a pallet.

For the purpose of relocating the wrapping machine 1 , the base 2 has its bottom formed with recesses or grooves 12 for inserting therein for example the lifting fork of a pallet jack or a forklift for easy transfer of the wrapping machine for example between working and storage locations.

When operating the illustrated wrapping machine 1 , the roller cage 1 1 is brought into the wrapping machine's wrapping zone with caster wheels first and in the direc- tion of the horizontally extending support section 4'. Once the roller cage 1 1 has reached the middle of the wrapping zone, said roller cage is swiveled, such that one of the caster wheels of the roller cage clamps to the element 10' holding the roller cage stationary.

When the roller cage 1 1 is thereby secured in position within the wrapping zone of one wrapping station of the wrapping machine 1 , the film web of a roll of film present in the film dispensing element 8' has its end attached to the roller cage. This is followed by activating the wrapping process of this particular wrapping station through the intermediary of a user interface 13, whereby the wrapping station's arm structure 6', 7' starts circling around the roller cage 1 1 present in the wrapping zone, thereby wrapping a film web around the roller cage. While the arm structure 6', 7' rotates around the roller cage 1 1 , the film dispensing elements 8' are simultaneously moved in vertical direction for wrapping the film web around the roller cage to a determined height. Preferably, the wrapping process ends automatically, followed by cutting the film web. Then, the wrapped-up roller cage 1 1 is removed from the wrapping station, and the wrapping station is ready to receive the next load to be wrapped.

While operating the wrapping machine 1 of the invention, the machine operator, af- ter activating the wrapping process of one wrapping station, is capable of preparing a roller cage for wrapping to be conducted at the other wrapping station by placing and securing it in that wrapping station's wrapping zone, as well as by attaching the end of a film web to the roller cage. If necessary, the wrapping process at this second wrapping station can also be commenced before it is finished at the first wrap- ping station.

Hence, the wrapping machine 1 of the invention provides a capability of enhancing and speeding up the work of a wrapping machine operator, as well as expediting the overall wrapping process of several loads to be wrapped up when compared to a wrapping machine with a single wrapping station. With regard to the foregoing embodiment, it should be noted that it is only intended as an example of a solution according to the invention and, hence, by no means as an embodiment that would limit the invention in any way. The scope of protection for the invention is solely and unequivocally defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A wrapping machine (1 ), said wrapping machine comprising:

- a base (2),

- a support structure attached to the base (2), said support structure including a vertically extending support section (3), said vertically extending support section having attached thereto a horizontally extending support section (4),

- an arm structure rotatable relative to the support structure, said arm structure comprising a horizontally extending arm section (6) connected rotatably to the support structure's horizontally extending support section (4), and a vertically extending arm section (7) connected to the horizontal arm section, and

- film dispensing elements (8) movably mounted on the arm structure's vertically extending arm section (7), characterized in that the wrapping machine (1 ) further comprises at least:

- a second support structure attached to the base (2), said second support struc- ture including a vertically extending support section (3'), said vertically extending support section having attached thereto a horizontally extending support section (4'),

- a second arm structure rotatable relative to the second support structure, said arm structure comprising a horizontally extending arm section (6') connected ro- tatably to the second support structure's horizontally extending support section (4'), and a vertically extending arm section (7') connected to the horizontal arm section, and

- second film dispensing elements (8') movably mounted on the second arm structure's vertically extending arm section (7').

2. A wrapping machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the wrapping machine further comprises:

- a third support structure attached to the base (2), said third support structure including a vertically extending support section, said vertically extending support section having attached thereto a horizontally extending support section, - a third arm structure rotatable relative to the third support structure, said arm structure comprising a horizontally extending arm section connected rotatably to the third support structure's horizontally extending support section, and a vertically extending arm section connected to the horizontal arm section, and - third film dispensing elements movably mounted on the third arm structure's vertically extending arm section.

3. A wrapping machine (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wrapping machine (1 ) has its base (2) provided with recesses (12) for moving the wrapping machine with a fork-shaped lifting device.

4. A wrapping machine (1 ) according to any of claims 1 -3, characterized in that the wrapping machine (1 ) comprises elements (10, 10') for immobilizing a load with wheels to be wrapped up with the wrapping machine.

5. A wrapping machine (1 ) according to any of claims 1 -4, characterized in that it is equipped with batteries for producing operating power for the wrapping machine (1 ).

6. A wrapping machine (1 ) according to any of claims 1 -5, characterized in that the horizontally extending support sections (4, 4') of the support structures are connected to each other with a connecting piece (5).