Film wrapping machine simultaneously utilizing two film carriage assemblies

Abstract

A film wrapping machine comprises a pair of diametrically opposed film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies, mounted upon a rotary ring member, for simultaneously dispensing wrapping film. A vertically movable frame member, upon which the rotary ring member is rotatably mounted, is effectively moved at a speed of ascent or descent that is approximately twice the speed as that of a vertically movable frame member incorporated within a conventional film wrapping machine so as to permit the dual film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies to dispense the wrapping or packaging film within a time frame that is approximately twice as fast as that of the conventional film wrapping machine and yet in a slightly overlapped mode as desired for packaging purposes.

1 . A film wrapping machine for wrapping articles within wrapping film, comprising:
 an upstanding framework;   a wrapping station, defined within said upstanding framework, at which an article to be wrapped is adapted to be disposed during an article wrapping operation;   a vertically movable frame member mounted upon said upstanding framework;   first motor drive means for moving said vertically movable frame member in a vertically reciprocal manner;   a rotary ring member mounted upon said vertically movable frame member;   second motor drive means for causing said rotary ring member to undergo rotary movement around said wrapping station at which the article to be wrapped is disposed; and   multiple film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assembly means mounted upon said rotary ring member for simultaneously dispensing wrapping film so as to simultaneously wrap the article, to be wrapped and disposed at said wrapping station, within wrapping film.   
   
   
       2 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said multiple film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assembly means comprises a pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies.   
   
   
       3 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies are mounted upon said rotary ring member at diametrically opposed positions.   
   
   
       4 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 control means for controlling said first motor drive means such that said first motor drive means moves said vertically movable frame member at a first predetermined rate of speed which permits said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies to simultaneously dispense the wrapping film, so as to simultaneously wrap the article to be wrapped and disposed at said wrapping station, in wrapping film within a time frame which is substantially shorter than that which would otherwise be achieved utilizing a single film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assembly.   
   
   
       5 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said control means comprises a programmable logic controller.   
   
   
       6 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said control means for controlling said first motor drive means will control said first motor drive means such that said first motor drive means moves said vertically movable frame member at a second predetermined rate of speed that is approximately one half of said first predetermined rate of speed so as to permit a first one of said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies to continue wrapping the article, to be wrapped and disposed at said wrapping station, in wrapping film if the wrapping film disposed upon a second one of said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies experiences a condition comprising one of depletion and breakage.   
   
   
       7 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a pair of film clamping mechanisms respectively operatively associated with said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing assemblies for holding leading end portions of the wrapping films in order to commence film wrapping operations.   
   
   
       8 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a pair of beam members upon which said pair of film clamping mechanisms are respectively mounted; and   means for movably mounting said pair of beam members upon said vertically movable frame member so as to move said pair of beam members, and said pair of film clamping mechanisms mounted thereon, toward and away from said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing assemblies.   
   
   
       9 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said means for movably mounting said pair of beam members comprises piston-cylinder assemblies.   
   
   
       10 . The film wrapping machine as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a pair of auxiliary film clamping means respectively mounted upon said pair of beam members for removing film tail portions of the wrapping films from said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing assemblies in order to prepare for the commencement of film wrapping operations utilizing new rolls of wrapping film.   
   
   
       11 . A method of wrapping articles within wrapping film, comprising the steps of:
 providing an upstanding framework;   defining a wrapping station within said upstanding framework at which an article to be wrapped is adapted to be disposed during an article wrapping operation;   mounting a vertically movable frame member upon said upstanding framework;   mounting a rotary ring member upon said vertically movable frame member;   mounting multiple film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies upon said rotary ring member; and   vertically moving said vertically movable frame member while rotating said rotary ring member such that said multiple film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies, mounted upon said rotary ring member, can simultaneously dispense wrapping film so as to simultaneously wrap the article, to be wrapped and disposed at said wrapping station, within wrapping film.   
   
   
       12 . The method as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 using a pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies as said multiple film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies.   
   
   
       13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 mounting said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies at diametrically opposed positions upon said rotary ring member.   
   
   
       14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 controlling the vertical movement of said vertically movable frame member at a first predetermined rate of speed which permits said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies to simultaneously dispense the wrapping film, so as to simultaneously wrap the article to be wrapped and disposed at said wrapping station, in wrapping film within a time frame which is substantially shorter than that which would otherwise be achieved utilizing a single film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assembly.   
   
   
       15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 utilizing a variable speed drive motor to drive said vertically movable frame member; and   utilizing a programmable logic controller to control said variable speed drive motor.   
   
   
       16 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
 controlling the vertical movement of said vertically movable frame member at a second predetermined rate of speed that is approximately one half of said first predetermined rate of speed so as to permit a first one of said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies to continue wrapping the article, to be wrapped and disposed at said wrapping station, in wrapping film if the wrapping film disposed upon a second one of said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing carriage assemblies experiences a condition comprising one of depletion and breakage.   
   
   
       17 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 respectively providing a pair of film clamping mechanisms to be operatively associated with said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing assemblies for holding leading end portions of the wrapping films in order to commence film wrapping operations.   
   
   
       18 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 respectively mounting said pair of film clamping mechanisms upon a pair of beam members; and   movably mounting said pair of beam members upon said vertically movable frame member such that said pair of beam members, and said pair of film clamping mechanisms mounted thereon, are movable toward and away from said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing assemblies.   
   
   
       19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 utilizing piston-cylinder assemblies, mounted upon said vertically movable frame member, for reciprocally moving said pair of beam members, and said pair of film clamping mechanisms mounted thereon, toward and away from said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing assemblies.   
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 respectively mounting a pair of auxiliary film clamping mechanisms upon said pair of beam members for removing film tail portions of the wrapping films from said pair of film roll mounting and dispensing assemblies in order to prepare for the commencement of film wrapping operations utilizing new rolls of wrapping film.