Stretch wrap carriage threading device

Abstract

A carriage for a stretch wrap assembly including a threading assembly for moving a front end of the stretch wrap through the housing. The threading assembly includes a manually movable system moving the front end of the stretch wrap, the manually movable system comprising an endless link moving about a plurality of rotating members and being located at a bottom surface of the top of the housing. The threading assembly includes a handle extending through the top of the housing. Roller axes and thread axes are parallel and spaced from each other such that none of the roller axes are collinear with the thread axes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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 having a housing configured to have stretch wrap move therethrough for wrapping a product on the turntable;   the housing including a plurality of rollers extending between a bottom of the housing and a top of the housing, the plurality of rollers rotating about roller axes, a wrap surface of the stretch wrap engaging exterior surfaces of the rollers as the stretch wrap moves therethrough;   the housing having a threading assembly for moving a front end of the stretch wrap through the housing during initiation of installation of the stretch wrap through the housing;   the threading assembly including a manually movable system moving the front end of the stretch wrap, the manually movable system comprising an endless link moving about a plurality of rotating members, the rotating members rotating about thread axes, the endless link being configured to be engaged with the front end of the stretch wrap to move the stretch wrap through the housing; and   the roller axes and the thread axes being parallel and spaced from each other such that none of the roller axes are collinear with the thread axes.   
     
     
         2 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 1 , 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.   
     
     
         3 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the threading assembly can move the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing when the chassis is in the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         4 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the rollers include a plurality of pre-stretch rollers and a plurality of nip rollers adjacent the pre-stretch rollers for maintaining the stretch wrap against the pre-stretch rollers;   the base portion including the pre-stretch rollers thereon; and   the chassis having at least one of the nip rollers thereon.   
     
     
         5 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of rotating members comprise sprockets;   the endless link is a chain; and   the endless link has a hook thereon for moving with the endless link and carrying the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the endless link is located at a bottom surface of the top of the housing;   the threading assembly including a handle extending through the top of the housing for manually moving the endless link to move the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing.   
     
     
         7 . 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 having a housing configured to have stretch wrap move therethrough for wrapping a product on the turntable;   the housing including a plurality of rollers extending between a bottom of the housing and a top of the housing, the plurality of rollers rotating about roller axes, a wrap surface of the stretch wrap engaging exterior surfaces of the rollers as the stretch wrap moves therethrough;   the housing having a threading assembly for moving a front end of the stretch wrap through the housing during initiation of installation of the stretch wrap through the housing;   the threading assembly including a manually movable system moving the front end of the stretch wrap, the manually movable system comprising an endless link moving about a plurality of rotating members, the rotating members rotating about thread axes, the endless link being configured to be engaged with the front end of the stretch wrap to move the stretch wrap through the housing;   the endless link being located on a bottom surface of the top of the housing; and   the threading assembly including a handle extending through the top of the housing for manually moving the endless link to move the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing.   
     
     
         8 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 7 , 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.   
     
     
         9 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the threading assembly can move the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing when the chassis is in the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         10 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the rollers include a plurality of pre-stretch rollers and a plurality of nip rollers adjacent the pre-stretch rollers for maintaining the stretch wrap against the pre-stretch rollers;   the base portion including the pre-stretch rollers thereon; and   the chassis having at least one of the nip rollers thereon.   
     
     
         11 . The stretch wrap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the plurality of rotating members comprise sprockets;   the endless link is a chain; and   the endless link has a hook thereon for moving with the endless link and carrying the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing.   
     
     
         12 . A carriage for a stretch wrap assembly comprising:
 a housing configured to have stretch wrap move therethrough for wrapping a product on a turntable;   the housing including a plurality of rollers extending between a bottom of the housing and a top of the housing, the plurality of rollers rotating about roller axes, a wrap surface of the stretch wrap engaging exterior surfaces of the rollers as the stretch wrap moves therethrough;   the housing having a threading assembly for moving a front end of the stretch wrap through the housing during initiation of installation of the stretch wrap through the housing;   the threading assembly including a manually movable system moving the front end of the stretch wrap, the manually movable system comprising an endless link moving about a plurality of rotating members, the rotating members rotating about thread axes, the endless link being configured to be engaged with the front end of the stretch wrap to move the stretch wrap through the housing;   the endless link being located at a bottom surface of the top of the housing;   the threading assembly including a handle extending through the top of the housing for manually moving the endless link to move the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing; and   the roller axes and the thread axes being parallel and spaced from each other such that none of the roller axes are collinear with the thread axes.   
     
     
         13 . The carriage of  claim 12 , 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.   
     
     
         14 . The carriage of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the threading assembly can move the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing when the chassis is in the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         15 . The carriage of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the rollers include a plurality of pre-stretch rollers and a plurality of nip rollers adjacent the pre-stretch rollers for maintaining the stretch wrap against the pre-stretch rollers;   the base portion including the pre-stretch rollers thereon; and   the chassis having at least one of the nip rollers thereon.   
     
     
         16 . The carriage of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the plurality of rotating members comprise sprockets;   the endless link is a chain; and   the endless link has a hook thereon for moving with the endless link and carrying the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing.   
     
     
         17 . A method of feeding stretch wrap through a carriage of a stretch wrap machine comprising:
 providing a housing having a plurality of rollers extending between a bottom of the housing and a top of the housing, the plurality of rollers rotating about roller axes;   providing the housing with a threading assembly for moving a front end of the stretch wrap through the housing during initiation of installation of the stretch wrap through the housing;   providing the threading assembly with a manually movable system comprising an endless link and a plurality of rotating members;   extending a handle of the threading assembly through the top of the housing;   locating the endless link at a bottom surface of the top of the housing;   providing the rollers with roller axes;   engaging the front end of the stretch wrap with the endless link;   moving the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing by moving the handle, with the rotating members rotating about thread axes during movement of the handle; and   moving the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing includes moving the endless link about the rotating members;   wherein the roller axes and the thread axes are parallel and spaced from each other such that none of the roller axes are collinear with the thread axes.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , 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.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 moving the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing including moving the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing when the chassis is in the closed engaged position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the plurality of rotating members comprise sprockets;   the endless link is a chain; and   the endless link has a hook thereon for moving with the endless link and carrying the front end of the stretch wrap through the housing.