US2011067364A1PendingUtilityA1

Carriage For A Stretch Wrapping Machine

38
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 22, 2009Filed: Sep 22, 2010Published: Mar 24, 2011
Est. expirySep 22, 2029(~3.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Neil G. CousinsSrbislav Z. Davidovic
B65B 11/045B29C 55/06B65B 2011/002
38
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A stretch wrap assembly comprising a base, a turntable mounted on the base, a column on the base and a carriage movable upon the column. The carriage includes a first, second, third and fourth nip rollers and first and second pre-stretch rollers. The carriage is configured to have stretch wrap threaded through the carriage from a roll of stretch wrap, around a portion of a circumference of the first nip roller, the first pre-stretch roller, the second pre-stretch roller, and the fourth nip roller and to the package. The nip rollers can be on a chassis to be able to move rotationally and laterally relative to the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
We claim: 
     
         1 . A stretch wrap assembly comprising:
 a base;   a turntable mounted on the base;   a column extending upwardly from the base; and   a carriage vertically movable upon the column, the carriage being configured to have stretch wrap thereon for wrapping a product on the turntable;   the carriage including a first nip roller, a first pre-stretch roller, a second pre-stretch roller, a second nip roller, a third nip roller and a fourth nip roller;   wherein the carriage is configured to have stretch wrap threaded through the carriage from a roll of stretch wrap, around a portion of a circumference of the first nip roller, around a portion of a circumference of the first pre-stretch roller, around a portion of a circumference of the second pre-stretch roller, around a portion of a circumference of the fourth nip roller and to the package;   wherein the first and second nip rollers are configured to maintain the stretch wrap against the first pre-stretch roller as the stretch wrap is stretched by the first pre-stretch roller, and the third and fourth nip rollers are configured to maintain the stretch wrap against the second pre-stretch roller as the stretch wrap is stretched by the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein the first nip roller and the fourth nip roller can move rotationally and laterally relative to the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller, respectively;   wherein a center of rotation of the first nip roller is located on a first side of a line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein a center of rotation of the fourth nip roller is also located on the first side of the line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein a center of rotation of the second nip roller is located on a second side of the line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein a center of rotation of the third nip roller is also located on the second side of the line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller; and   wherein the first and second sides are located on opposite sides to the line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         2 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller are configured to be rotated at different speeds in order to stretch the stretch wrap as it passes by the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         3 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carriage further includes a dancer roller, with the carriage being configured to have stretch wrap threaded around a portion of a circumference of the dancer roller and to the package.   
     
     
         4 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carriage comprises a housing having a base portion and a chassis movable relative to the base portion between an open position and a closed engaged position;   the base portion including the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller thereon; and   the chassis having the first nip roller and the second nip roller thereon.   
     
     
         5 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first nip roller and the second nip roller can move laterally relative to the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller, respectively, by moving the housing between the open position and the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         6 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the center of rotation of the first nip roller and the center of rotation of the second nip roller rotate about a first axis while the chassis moves between the open position and the closed engaged position; and   the center of rotation of the third nip roller and the center of rotation of the fourth nip roller rotate about a second axis while the chassis moves between the open position and the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         7 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first axis and the second axis are fixed in position relative to each other.   
     
     
         8 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 6 , wherein:
 at least one first link connects the first nip roller to the second nip roller;   the at least one first link having the first axis passing therethrough;   at least one second link connects the third nip roller to the fourth nip roller; and   the at least one second link having the second axis passing therethrough.   
     
     
         9 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller have different circumferences in order to stretch the stretch wrap as it passes by the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         10 . A carriage for a stretch wrap machine comprising:
 a housing including a first nip roller, a first pre-stretch roller, a second pre-stretch roller, a second nip roller, a third nip roller and a fourth nip roller;   wherein the carriage is configured to have stretch wrap threaded through the carriage from a roll of stretch wrap, around a portion of a circumference of the first nip roller, around a portion of a circumference of the first pre-stretch roller, around a portion of a circumference of the second pre-stretch roller, around a portion of a circumference of the fourth nip roller and to the package;   wherein the first and second nip rollers are configured to maintain the stretch wrap against the first pre-stretch roller as the stretch wrap is stretched by the first pre-stretch roller, and the third and fourth nip rollers are configured to maintain the stretch wrap against the second pre-stretch roller as the stretch wrap is stretched by the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein the first nip roller and the fourth nip roller can move rotationally and laterally relative to the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller, respectively;   wherein a center of rotation of the first nip roller is located on a first side of a line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein a center of rotation of the fourth nip roller is also located on the first side of the line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein a center of rotation of the second nip roller is located on a second side of the line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein a center of rotation of the third nip roller is also located on the second side of the line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller; and   wherein the first and second sides are located on opposite sides to the line drawn between the center of rotation of the first pre-stretch roller and the center of rotation of the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         11 . The carriage of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller are configured to be rotated at different speeds in order to stretch the stretch wrap as it passes by the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         12 . The carriage of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the carriage further includes a dancer roller, with the carriage being configured to have stretch wrap threaded around a portion of a circumference of the dancer roller and to the package.   
     
     
         13 . The carriage of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the housing has a base portion and a chassis movable relative to the base portion between an open position and a closed engaged position;   the base portion includes the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller thereon; and   the chassis has the first nip roller and the second nip roller thereon.   
     
     
         14 . The carriage of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first nip roller and the second nip roller can move laterally relative to the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller, respectively, by moving the housing between the open position and the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         15 . The carriage of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the center of rotation of the first nip roller and the center of rotation of the second nip roller rotate about a first axis while the chassis moves between the open position and the closed engaged position; and   the center of rotation of the third nip roller and the center of rotation of the fourth nip roller rotate about a second axis while the chassis moves between the open position and the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         16 . The carriage of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first axis and the second axis are fixed in position relative to each other.   
     
     
         17 . The carriage of  claim 15 , wherein:
 at least one first link connects the first nip roller to the second nip roller;   the at least one first link having the first axis passing therethrough;   at least one second link connects the third nip roller to the fourth nip roller; and   the at least one second link having the second axis passing therethrough.   
     
     
         18 . The carriage of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller have different circumferences in order to stretch the stretch wrap as it passes by the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         19 . A carriage for a stretch wrap machine comprising:
 a housing having a base portion and a chassis movable relative to the base portion between an open position and a closed engaged position;   the base portion including a first pre-stretch roller and a second pre-stretch roller thereon;   the chassis having a first nip roller, a second nip roller, a third nip roller and a fourth nip roller thereon;   wherein the housing, when in the closed engaged position, is configured to have stretch wrap threaded through the carriage from a roll of stretch wrap, around a portion of a circumference of the first nip roller, around a portion of a circumference of the first pre-stretch roller, around a portion of a circumference of the second pre-stretch roller, around a portion of a circumference of the fourth nip roller and to the package;   wherein, when the housing is in the closed engaged position, the first and second nip rollers are configured to maintain the stretch wrap against the first pre-stretch roller as the stretch wrap is stretched by the first pre-stretch roller, and the third and fourth nip rollers are configured to maintain the stretch wrap against the second pre-stretch roller as the stretch wrap is stretched by the second pre-stretch roller; and   wherein centers of rotation of the first nip roller and of the second nip roller move relative to the first pre-stretch roller and centers of rotation of the third nip roller and the fourth nip roller move relative to the second pre-stretch roller, respectively, by moving the housing between the open position and the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         20 . The carriage of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller are configured to be rotated at different speeds in order to stretch the stretch wrap as it passes by the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         21 . The carriage of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the chassis further includes a dancer roller, with the carriage being configured to have stretch wrap threaded around a portion of a circumference of the dancer roller and to the package.   
     
     
         22 . The carriage of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the center of rotation of the first nip roller and the center of rotation of the second nip roller rotate about a first axis while the chassis moves between the open position and the closed engaged position; and   the center of rotation of the third nip roller and the center of rotation of the fourth nip roller rotate about a second axis while the chassis moves between the open position and the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         23 . The carriage of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first axis and the second axis are fixed in position relative to each other.   
     
     
         24 . The carriage of  claim 22 , wherein:
 at least one first link connects the first nip roller to the second nip roller;   the at least one first link having the first axis passing therethrough;   at least one second link connects the third nip roller to the fourth nip roller; and   the at least one second link having the second axis passing therethrough.   
     
     
         25 . The carriage of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller have different circumferences in order to stretch the stretch wrap as it passes by the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         26 . A carriage for a stretch wrap machine comprising:
 a housing having a base portion and a chassis movable relative to the base portion between an open position and a closed engaged position;   the base portion including a first pre-stretch roller and a second pre-stretch roller thereon;   the chassis having a first nip roller, a second nip roller, a third nip roller and a fourth nip roller thereon;   wherein the housing, when in the closed engaged position, is configured to have stretch wrap threaded through the carriage from a roll of stretch wrap, around a portion of a circumference of the first nip roller, around a portion of a circumference of the first pre-stretch roller, around a portion of a circumference of the second pre-stretch roller, around a portion of a circumference of the fourth nip roller and to the package;   wherein, when the housing is in the closed engaged position, the first and second nip rollers are configured to maintain the stretch wrap against the first pre-stretch roller as the stretch wrap is stretched by the first pre-stretch roller, and the third and fourth nip rollers are configured to maintain the stretch wrap against the second pre-stretch roller as the stretch wrap is stretched by the second pre-stretch roller;   wherein a center of rotation of the first nip roller and a center of rotation of the second nip roller rotate about a first axis while the chassis moves between the open position and the closed engaged position; and   wherein a center of rotation of the third nip roller and a center of rotation of the fourth nip roller rotate about a second axis while the chassis moves between the open position and the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         27 . The carriage of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller are configured to be rotated at different speeds in order to stretch the stretch wrap as it passes by the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         28 . The carriage of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller have different circumferences in order to stretch the stretch wrap as it passes by the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.   
     
     
         29 . The carriage of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the first axis and the second axis are fixed in position relative to each other.   
     
     
         30 . The carriage of  claim 26 , wherein:
 at least one first link connects the first nip roller to the second nip roller;   the at least one first link having the first axis passing therethrough;   at least one second link connects the third nip roller to the fourth nip roller; and   the at least one second link having the second axis passing therethrough.

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